Newcastle Fail to Punch Their Weight and Lose to a Late Knockout
By Matt Riley
Remarkably, Newcastle did not complete a single cross in the entire ninety minutes despite twelve attempts. Not only was Ba without the support of Papiss Cisse, his role became that of holding the ball up for Ben Arfa and Obertan rather than rampaging into the box.
Newcastle chose a cautious set up, understandably with Arsenal in search of their fifth win in a row ( three of those after going one nil down.) With four defenders and two deep lying midfielders in Tiote and Cabaye, Obertan was always going to find any linking play difficult with only Ba up front and Ben Arfa playing on the left of midfield to start but moving right to look in vain for some meaningful possession.
Walcott attacks Whilst Obertan Back Tracks.
Obertan's isolation and eventual substitution in the sixty first minute contrasted hugely with
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