We are still in awe of what Newcastle United did at the Emirates on Tuesday night, tactically outclassing Arsenal and Mikel Arteta isn't something that happens very often ... unless you're Eddie Howe.
Newcastle had a dual personality in play on Tuesday night. The first hour or so was all about taking the lead and maybe expanding on it, while after that it was all sitting back and soaking up whatever Arsenal threw at them.
At one point the Newcastle formation was a 5-5-0 which, I'm not going to lie, angered and terrified me in equal measure at the time, but in hindsight, it was an absolute stroke of genius.
But don't take my word for it. Watch this video by Four Four Two by Newcastle fan Adam Clery who breaks down the tactics of the game absolutely brilliantly.
Clery is excellent at breaking down tactics and stats and delivering them in an entertaining way, and while that video is 19 minutes long, it absolutely flies by.
In fact, Clery spotted something that I had completely missed on the night, and that was Miguel Almiron relaying the tactic when he came onto the pitch. It was so clear what the plan was.
He also speaks about that foul when Leandro Trossard tugged back Alexander Isak and Isak's 'shove' on Martin Odegaard as being 'brilliant' fouls, and we absolutely agree.
We have been quick to criticise Eddie Howe in the past for not being adventurous with his tactics, and then when he does try something new I sit and have a twenty-minute panic attack about it.
However, as Four Four Two points out, there was never any cause for alarm as Martin Dubravka never had a single save to make in the second half.
We already felt that Tuesday was one of the best nights Eddie Howe has had as Newcastle manager, but seeing it broken down like this really cements it as so. You owe it yourself to give it a watch.
PL | GD | PTS | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Liverpool
|
19 | 28 | 46 |
2 |
Arsenal
|
20 | 21 | 40 |
3 |
Nottingham Forest
|
20 | 10 | 40 |
4 |
Chelsea
|
20 | 15 | 36 |
5 |
Newcastle United
|
20 | 12 | 35 |
6 |
Manchester City
|
20 | 9 | 34 |
7 |
Bournemouth
|
20 | 7 | 33 |
8 |
Aston Villa
|
20 | -2 | 32 |
9 |
Fulham
|
20 | 3 | 30 |
10 |
Brighton
|
20 | 1 | 28 |
11 |
Brentford
|
20 | 3 | 27 |
12 |
Tottenham Hotspur
|
20 | 12 | 24 |
13 |
Manchester United
|
20 | -5 | 23 |
14 |
West Ham United
|
20 | -15 | 23 |
15 |
Crystal Palace
|
20 | -7 | 21 |
16 |
Everton
|
19 | -10 | 17 |
17 |
Wolves
|
20 | -14 | 16 |
18 |
Ipswich
|
20 | -15 | 16 |
19 |
Leicester
|
20 | -21 | 14 |
20 |
Southampton
|
20 | -32 | 6 |