Magic Mari and amazing Emile - all the fallout from the 2-0 victory over Newcastle

Magic Mari and amazing Emile - all the fallout from Arsenal's 2-0 victory over Newcastle in the Emirates FA Cup third round

By Adam Le Roux

Let’s be honest, Saturday’s FA Cup third round clash with Newcastle was hardly a classic. It was a two-hour slog, with a sprinkle of quality at the end to seal the win. 

Arsenal weren’t much better than their opponents at the Emirates, and if Andy Carroll had any sort of goalscoring instinct then we could be sat here digesting another defeat, but that’s football for you. 

Maybe it’s about time that the Gunners edged a game that they could so easily have lost. It seems that the reverse has happened so often this season, where the results haven’t matched the performances, that they were due one of them. 

Sometimes it doesn’t matter how you win a game, as long as you do, and that’s exactly what happened on Saturday evening, as progression to the fourth round of the Cup is all that matters. 

There were still plenty of talking points from the clash at the Emirates, with some members of the squad continuing to play themselves into contention for a regular starting berth, although the writing could be on the wall for one Gunner. 

Magic Mari makes the difference

If you are searching for a reason why it has all turned around recently for the Gunners, look no further than the performances of centre-back Pablo Mari. 

After a prolonged spell on the sidelines following an ankle injury sustained against Manchester City in June, followed by numerous setbacks along the way, the Spanish star is making up for lost time with an array of dominant performances in the backline. 

In fact, the former Flamengo man has played every single minute of the Gunners’ current four-match unbeaten streak, and the defensive unit has looked all the stronger for it. 

The 27-year-old’s footballing intelligence sees opposing attacks fizzled out before they have even begun, as he gets himself into the right places on the pitch to cut off any attacking threat, while looking cool, calm and collected at the same time. 

At just £7.2m, he has proved to be an absolute bargain since he has returned to action and been given a prolonged spell in the first team, and it gives confidence to the rest of the team knowing he is behind them. 

With eight wins from the nine times he has taken to the field for Arsenal, the Spanish star has put himself into contention for a regular starting berth in Mikel Arteta’s side, and puts Gabriel’s return to the team in doubt. 

Smith Rowe revels in redemption

If ever there was proof of why you should give the youth products a chance, then Emile Smith Rowe is most definitely it. 

After impressing for Huddersfield in the Championship in the last campaign, the academy prospect has finally been given a prolonged run in the Arsenal first team – and we are all reaping the rewards because of it. 

The 20-year-old gave even more reason to be part of Arteta’s plans with his performance against the Magpies, with his determination and tenacity proving the difference from the second he came on in the second-half. 

Even when the former RB Leipzig loanee was wrongly give his marching orders in the latter stages of normal time, it was because of his fight and desire to retrieve the ball and go all out for the victory, which is exactly what this Arsenal team need. 

Too often we have seen sides that don’t look bothered either way when they take to the field at the Emirates, but Smith Rowe, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli – who was injured in the warm-up on Saturday – are different. You can tell how much it means to them to put on the red and white shirt of Arsenal Football Club, and that’s what really matters. 

And as well as that, Smith Rowe has the quality in possession to prove himself at the pinnacle of the game. His technique, his deftness of touch, it’s all there, and the way he took his goal so well shows just how indispensable he is to the club at this moment in time. 

Is Eddie ready to go?

Remember when we all talked about Eddie Nketiah being the next best thing at the Emirates? After not being brought on in a game when Arsenal are chasing a goal, however, it may prove just how far down he is in the pecking order at the moment. 

Despite making 21 appearances this season for the Gunners, the academy prospect doesn’t seem to be setting the world alight at this moment in time, especially compared to his fellow graduates from the youth team like Smith Rowe and Saka.

What must have been going through the 21-year-old’s mind as Arteta turned to every other attacking option he had in reserve, while he sat there idly on the bench watching on

With Alexandre Lacazette looking to be rediscovering his form in front of goal, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang getting back on the scoresheet, game time will be hard to come by for the former Leeds loanee as the season progresses, with hard decisions having to be made soon. 

With rumours of interest from West Ham flying around during the January transfer window, Nketiah’s omission from the Gunners team may well just be a coincidence, but a reluctance to cup-tie the striker may have also been part of Arteta’s thinking during Saturday’s affair. 

Either way, with just a single Premier League goal to his name this season, it may be time for the youngster to pack his bags.