Newcastle player ratings vs Arsenal as 3/10 flop anonymous again and Will Osula gets it all wrong
There will be some who point to improved performance from Newcastle United following their 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday.
That, however, is surely a generous reading of Newcastle United’s current situation.
Indeed, while the return of Bruno Guimaraes did bring about an added quality in central midfield, Newcastle did still lose to a Gunners side who were quite clearly nervous – and still one who didn’t need to go up the gears.
Beaten again 😔😔 Give us your IMMEDIATE reaction to the game
Anyone else starting to think we might go down?
In the end, a ninth-minute Eberechi Eze goal was enough to seal a vital three points for the hosts and thereby condemn Newcastle to yet another Premier League defeat.
Here’s how Geordie Boot Boys rated the players…
Nick Pope – 5
Brought back into the side and almost cost his team a second goal with a typical error when he ran out to try and stop the onrushing Viktor Gyokeres.
Didn’t make a save one wouldn’t expect him to have done. Pope cannot be starting next season.
Thin gruel but who was your MOTM vs Arsenal and why?! 🤔
Lewis Miley – 7
Miley returned to the right-back role and did not look out of place. Newcastle could lose the next four games and one would struggle to criticise him.
Malick Thiaw – 6
Switched off for the short corner from which Eze scored. Thiaw, somehow, was also the man tasked with crossing the ball deep into the box late on and got that all wrong.
Sven Botman – 6
It is not exactly breaking news that Botman is far from his best right now and that continued here. Wasn’t dreadful but the worry is that he’s never going to recapture the kind of form that made him such a hot property in the first place.
Dan Burn – 6
Not exactly torn apart here, which has happened to Burn when starting at left-back this season. Clearly not the most comfortable there these days but was steady enough defensively.
Bruno Guimaraes – 6
Certainly not at his best as he looks to get back up to full fitness, but that’s to be expected. Might have done better with an early shot but clearly makes Newcastle tick.
Having him back is such a boost.
Sandro Tonali – 7
A strong performance from Tonali. The quality on the ball isn’t there nearly enough but the Italian never stops running and Arsenal may well have rounded off some of their counters had it not been for his presence.
Jacob Ramsey – 4
Midfielder? Left winger? Doesn’t really matter, Ramsey offered nothing going forward and was knocked off the ball far too easily.
Jacob Murphy – 3
Once again, Murphy let the game pass him by. Does his bit off the ball but just not good enough on it these days.
Needs upgrading in the summer and Anthony Elanga just isn’t that man.
William Osula – 3
Osula should have opened the scoring within the opening few seconds but somehow tripped over his own feet. A reminder of his limitations, making the decision to constantly overlook Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa even stranger.
Joe Willock – 4
Willock started in a free-ish role out on the left and almost had an early impact when he played Osula in.
Looked lively at times without ever really doing anything.
