After Manchester City, now it’s Arsenal and Newcastle United’s turn as the top 4 teams last season, who escaped their opponents in the first match of the new Premier League season, Saturday. Arsenal narrowly won 2-1 over their guests, Nottingham Forest in a match that took place at the London Emirates. Meanwhile at St James Park, The Magpies Newcastle United won big 5-1 over Aston Villa.
The Gunners managed to start their first match with a win even though it was only with a narrow score of 2-1 over Forest. Achieving the full 3 points in this match is very important especially playing in front of their supporters at London’s Emirates Stadium.
The first goal was born thanks to action from Eddie Nketiah in the 26th minute thanks to a stunning assist from Brazilian winger Gabriel Martinelli. The Brazilian initially picked up the ball facing away from goal, but after turning inside he found himself in the face of Danilo and Serge Aurier.
His brilliant 360-degree turn and backheel tricked them both into finding Nketiah, who coolly fired the ball into the Forest goal past their keeper, Matt Turner. Six minutes later, Arsenal doubled their advantage with an individual brilliance from Bukayo Saka.
Starting from William Lilina took the ball from Morgan Gibbs-White on the right side. The ball was given to Thomas Partey who assisted Saka. The young English player burst to the edge of the Forest penalty box, skipped past Mangala and fired a powerful shot into the Forest goal.
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Goalkeeper Turner was unable to avoid the goal. Arsenal won 2-0 and this score lasted until halftime. But the hosts were unable to hold on to their advantage. The figure of Taiwo Awoniyi managed to score one goal in the final minutes so that the score of the match had to end 2-1 for the Gunners’ victory.
This goal was the fruit of a quick counter-attack from Forest as Anthony Elanga raced down the wing 60 yards and put the ball in front of Arsenal’s goal which Awoniyi found a goal. In fact, the goal did not need to happen if the transition process for Arsenal’s squad went smoothly. Their defensive midfielder came down late to their defensive area.
Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta also regretted the goal. He must give back the understanding of the importance of focus when they are experiencing superiority in a match. Another Top Four team, Newcastle United, under Eddie Howe’s side, also won their first game at St James Park Stadium with a big 5-1 win over Aston Villa.
Witnessed by their approximately 52 thousand supporters who were present at the stadium, the opening goal was born when the match had only been running for 6 minutes from the debut player from AC Milan, Italy, Sandro Tonali. Sandro Tonali, a player who was brought in from AC Milan, celebrates his first goal on his debut with the Magpies (Photo Skysports.com).
Tonali, who joined the Magpies squad for a transfer fee of £ 52 million, marked a cool debut with his first goal. This goal inspired Newcastle to beat Aston Villa 5-1.
After this goal, it was proven that the match became easier for The Magpies. The 23-year-old Italian player apart from opening the scoring also played a part in two more goals for Alexander Isak to score twice. The other two goals were scored by substitutes Callum Wilson and Harvey Barnes in the dying minutes of the game. Aston Villa goalkeeper from Argentina, Emiliano Martinez must bring 5 goals away from Newcastle United.
While Aston Villa actually managed to equalize just 5 minutes after Newcastle’s first goal through Moussa Diaby’s shot. Goalkeeper Nick Pope was unable to prevent the goal. For Eddie Howe, the coach, this victory means a lot in the Magpies’ efforts to start playing matches at a higher level, namely the Champions League.
This is Newcastle United’s first time competing in Europe’s highest competition after they finished 4th in the Premier League last year. Congratulations to Arsenal and Newcastle United for making it through their first match in the new 2023-2024 Premier League competition.
ASL
