We were the better team – Cry some more Mikel Arteta | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta, you have to love him, don’t you. Don’t you?

Newcastle United came to North London and beat Arsenal fair and square, scoring two goals and keeping a clean sheet.

Yet Mikel Arteta desperate not to give any credit, apart from accepting that Newcastle United defended their box well and took their two goals clinically.

Other than that, he reckons Arsenal were the better team in ‘every other aspect’…

Cry some more Mikel Arteta.

Newcastle United were the better and more dangerous team in the first half and then defended especially superbly after going two up in the second-half.

Arsenal had a lot of possession and a lot of corners.

However, Newcastle had four shots on target and Arsenal only three, at home! That is the real story of this match.

Mikel Arteta talking to Sky Sports after Arsenal 0 Newcastle 2:

“That was the biggest difference [being clinical] in the game.

“In every other aspect, we were the better team.

“They scored two goals and credit to them as they managed to win the game like this.

“When we missed the chances and conceded the goal it is always tough, but the team reacted.

“We generated a lot of situations, but it is true, they defended the box very well.

“We can do better with our decisions.

“We had a one-v-one chance with the keeper and in the semi-final you have to be clinical.”

Mikel Arteta on the Alexander Isak goal:

“I have seen the goal and it is something they do, they create the chaos and it gets to the wrong player and Isak puts it away.”

Mikel Arteta on the second leg:

“We have to be disappointed as it’s another result that we wanted but that’s the reality.

“I have full belief.

“I have seen my team playing against them – I believe we can do it.”

Arsenal 0 Newcastle 2 – Tuesday 7 January 2025 8pm

(Stats via BBC Sport)

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Isak 37, Gordon 51

Arsenal:

Possession was Newcastle 31% (42%) Arsenal 69% (58%)

Total shots were Newcastle 7 (5) Arsenal 23 (14)

Shots on target were Newcastle 4 (2) Arsenal 3 (3)

Corners were Newcastle 1 (1) Arsenal 11 (4)

Touches in the box Newcastle 15 (10) Arsenal 47 (19)

Newcastle team v Spurs:

Dubravka, Livramento, Botman, Burn, Hall, Tonali, Willock (Longstaff 65), Joelinton, Murphy (Kelly 65), Isak (Barnes 65), Gordon (Almiron 76)

Unused subs:

Vlachodimos, Trippier, Osula, Lewis Miley, Targett

Newcastle United upcoming matches:

Sunday 12 January – Newcastle v Bromley (3pm) BBC iPlayer (FA Cup)

Wednesday 15 January – Newcastle v Wolves (7.30pm) TNT Sports

Saturday 18 January – Newcastle v Bournemouth (12.30pm) TNT Sports

Saturday 25 January – Southampton v Newcastle (3pm)

Saturday 1 February – Newcastle v Fulham (3pm)

Wednesday 5 February – Newcastle v Arsenal (8pm) Sky Sports