Phrases like "taking candy from a baby" come to mind when Clichy repeatedly takes the ball away from hapless opponents and darts upfield. He took a swerving shot on target today. If he starts adding goals to his game, we'll have to break out the 10's (9).
Nasri - Settling in nicely. Arsenal supporters often urge players to shoot when they're around the box, rather than pass it around too much. Nasri seems to appreciate the advice. A really skillful player - a bit in the Cesc mold. He looks great going forward, very tricky on the ball around the box, plus he looks like he has the stamina to track back. Looks like a great signing (8).
Adebayor - I'm a big fan. He really brings a lot up front. Had the assist on the Denilson goal. He's always a threat to score himself, and had a couple chances at headers that didn't come off. He looks very likely to score, and it's creating space for other players (8).
Van Persie - Whoever chose Van Persie to take the penalty deserves a bit of credit - he put it away aplomb. He got his second from a great Eboue backheel. I think it was Adebayor who passed it to Eboue. It was a fantastic goal - brilliant approach play. It's very easy to imagine Van Persie getting 20 league goals, if he can stay healthy. He was down injured about 3 times today, and was subbed off around the hour mark (8).
Eboue had that brilliant assist for the second goal. I've harped on a fair bit about his stats from last season - no goal and two assists, but he looks much better than he did last season. He had a shocking cross that went into the stands, but he looked useful more often than not (7).
Denilson - Showed signs in the first half of having another nightmare, but grew into the game. Was involved in the buildup that led to his goal. Made some good tackles in midfield, plus some clumsy ones that led to potentially dangerous free kicks. It looks like if he could find his confidence, and quit trying passes that have no chance of coming off, he could be an exciting player. He seems to smell blood when he's close to goal, and has already been involved in a few goals this season (7).
Cesc - Had a bit of a quiet game, but whenever he gets the ball, he does something really nice. A brilliant player (7).
Sagna, Toure, and Gallas were able to shut down Newcastle's approach play with contemptuous ease. It looked like set plays were going to be Newcastle's best chance to score, and they hit the bar from a corner, but Arsenal were rarely threatened. Toure kept pushing forward and almost scored a couple times. I'm in the camp that really likes this back 4 (7,7,7).
Almunia - Tipped one over. Could've been beaten on the Nicky Butt header that hit the bar, and maybe should've intervened, but hasn't been giving his critics too much to complain about (7).
Walcott came on, and did his usual thing, which is to play a little bit out of control, had a chance or two to score, but lacked composure. Still, he's a lot of fun to watch (6).
Vela - Looked pretty lively. A nice option to bring on. Looks like he's going to score some goals (7).
Alex Song - Did ok replacing Denilson. Has the instinct to drop back and defend, more than push forward (6).
Overall, the scoreline flattered Newcastle a bit. This story about Newcastle looking for 4 new players just about sums it up.
It was a great day out for Arsenal. Newcastle's Joey Barton had a short, but eventful, substitute appearance. He clattered into Nasri pretty clumsily, and seemed disproportionately happy about it. Nasri clipped him soon afterwards, which seemed perfectly fair from an Arsenal supporter's perspective. Clichy, though, showed Nasri an even better approach, and humilated Barton with a nutmeg that brought a roar of approval from the home crowd.
The referee did very well, I thought, to give Nasri a yellow card a few minutes after he tripped Barton - maybe one of the assistant referees told him about the incident. Without that yellow card, it could have escalated into a weeks-long scandal. Incidents that escape the attention of the referee are subject to video review and an ongoing tabloid circus - a process that invariably makes the FA appear painfully incompetent. It's ironic, but the FA usually does much more to bring the game into disrepute than the incidents they investigate.
Among those in attendance for today's match at the Emirates: Patrick Vieira, sitting next to Arsenal's new signing Mikael Silvestre. Odd that. Inter started their season today - Mourinho's first game in charge. If it's all starting to look like Wicked Deflection is pulling the strings in the transfer market - make of that what you will - we can't categorically deny it. Vieira himself has now called for Arsenal to sign a new midfielder. Resolution coming in the next 48 hours or so.
Amy Lawrence reminded me that Newcastle did have a chance from open play when Owen and Ameobi got in each others' way. That was a lapse from Arsenal's back line, but quickly forgotten, obviously, sort of like the penalty that wasn't given in the 2nd minute when Van Persie was hauled down.
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these are the kind of matches we all love to watch...but wud they be able to play like this day in day out, needs to be seen...Eboue and Ade played really well...And when will Toure score from one of his trademark long range Bazooka shots:)
Suj - Arsenal have had seasons where they put in a couple dozen performances like this. A lot of that was when Thierry Henry was around and he would annihilate sides that weren't up for it.
We need Denilson to be as good as Edu was.
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