Newcastle United has been on the back foot most of the match, particularly after an initial 15 minutes that saw Jonas Gutierrez challenge a strong Bacary Sagna down the Magpie left side. But the Toon failed to threaten goal, and with Arsenal's best chance seeing Cesc Fabregas go off the crossbar midway through the first half, Sunday's match at The Emirates looked set to reach intermission scoreless.
Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle United: Andy Carroll Outleaps Lukasz Fabianski, Gives Toon Halftime Lead
Then Andy Carroll happened. And unfortunately for Arsenal, so did Lukasz Fabianski, with the Newcastle striker out-leaping the Gunner `keeper to give the Toon a 0-1 halftime lead.
The goal came off a dead ball opportunity as the match reached the end of normal time. Joey Barton ran onto a ball eight yards into Arsenal's half an lofted his service to the middle of the box, three yards outside Fabianski's six. The Arsenal keeper came off his line and set-up under the ball, but with Carroll able to get a running start, with neither Gaël Clichy nor Laurent Koscielny properly picking him up, the towering Toon attacker out-jumped Fabianski and headed the ball into an undefended net.
It was Newcastle's first chance on goal in a match that's seen them out-shot 8-to-1. Still, with the exception of Fabregas's woodwork rattler, Newcastle has done a reasonable job of containing Arsenal, their high line and quick tracking on passes through their line leaving the Gunners without clear changes. Good passing from Alex Song and nice displays of skill from Samir Nasri have missed a moment of magic from their captain.
For Newcastle, there has been little to offer in attack. Early advances down the left from Jonas Gutierrez were countered by Arsenal playing a higher line and constricting the midfield. This allowed Arsenal to control the thirty minutes before half, with strong play from Cheick Tiote preventing Arsenal from their trademark passing in-and-around the Magpie defense.
The only thing which separates the two sides is a rather innocuous foul, a well executed set piece, and a striker out-working a goalkeeper. Andy Carroll has the Toon on top in London.
For SBNation.com, this is Richard Farley. Back to you.
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