Arsenal player ratings: Kai Havertz fluffs golden chance on dismal night for Gunners… but academy ace a rare positive
NEWCASTLE threw the first punch at Arsenal in their Carabao Cup semi-final first leg after earning a 2-0 victory at the Emirates.
Gunners target Alexander Isak showed his gun fingers after putting Eddie Howe‘s side ahead inside 37 minutes.
Isak’s seventh goal in five games came just eight minutes after Gabriel Martinelli‘s effort smacked off the post.
Anthony Gordon doubled the deficit as Arsenal spurred untold chances throughout, including a sitter from Kai Havertz in the 58th minute.
But high-flying Newcastle secured their first win at the Emirates since 2010 as they solidified their place as Mikel Arteta‘s bogey team.
Arsenal meanwhile recorded their first home defeat since Aston Villa all but ended their Premier League title hopes in April 2024.
For many years, it was the after-thought competition, but Newcastle look hellbent on securing their first piece of silverware in 70 years.
The taste buds are already salivating for the second leg on Tyneside on February 5, where Arsenal lost 1-0 in the Prem in November.
Here SunSport’s Jordan Davies rates every Arsenal player, who must find a way to climb back from a two-goal lead next month.
DAVID RAYA – 6/10
Looked nervy with ball at feet at times but could do nothing to stop Alexander Isak’s brilliant close-range finish.
Unlucky to see his palmed save tapped in by Anthony Gordon.
MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY – 8
The academy product was very impressive again. Turned out of danger well at both ends of the pitch. So calm under pressure.
GABRIEL – 6
Gave Isak far too much space to manoeuvre a shot in the box before the Toon’s second. Wasteful and ineffective from corners.
WILLIAM SALIBA – 6
Had an early effort blocked near the line by Dan Burn. Was dealing with Isak well until losing a header to Sven Botman that saw the Toon striker score.
JURRIEN TIMBER – 5
Missed an absolute sitter from a yard out from a corner.
Was then caught sleeping just after the break to allow Gordon to double Newcastle’s lead.
THOMAS PARTEY – 6
Linked defence and attack fairly well without ever really doing anything spectacular.
DECLAN RICE – 6
Plays Jacob Murphy onside from a flicked on free-kick that leads to Newcastle taking the lead.
Took more responsibility in the second half on the ball.
MARTIN ODEGAARD – 7
Heavily man-marked by Joelinton but looked back to his very best after a spate of illness.
GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 8
Much more direct in his running. Unlucky not to open the scoring with his driven shot hitting the post after a half-way line sprint.
Continued to be positive in his play – just lacked the finishing touch.
LEANDRO TROSSARD – 6
Sneakily got away with dragging Isak down to stop the Swede joining a Newcastle counter in the first half and a good first-time pass to set Martinelli away. Those were his only highlights.
KAI HAVERTZ – 5
May just be back from a sickness bug, but the big German did very little, apart from somehow fluffing a header wide unmarked from six yards
SUBS:
JORGINHO (PARTEY, 59) – 7
Some nice passes into dangerous areas and sprayed the ball about with conviction.
GABRIEL JESUS (TROSSARD, 59) – 6
Lively and sharp without every really testing Newcastle’s back four or goal.]
OLEKSANDR ZINCHENKO (LEWIS-SKELLY, 77) – 5
Booked within a minute of coming on for a rash challenge on Joelinton.