Coming on the back of a series of disappointing performances, few would have expected the way Newcastle performed against Arsenal. However, defying the odds, the Magpies club gave their best display in the PL campaign, now looking close to reaching their best level again. While certainly the home support did play a crucial role, credit is due to the Toon players who were commendable against Arsenal.
Eddie Howe pleased with prodigy linkup star who improves their overall lineup
Unlike the previous fixtures, Eddie Howe's side showed intensity and aggression from the very beginning, being willing to fight for the crucial 3 points. On top of that, after going ahead through Isak's perfect header, the Magpies club showed cohesiveness in their defense, which helped them register a win against the Gunners. While much of the media praise was showered on star forward Isak for his winning goal, the side had many silent heroes in the 1-0 win.
After the fixture, while Club legend Alan Shearer was full of praise for Newcastle's full-back duo, with former star Pearce being content with Longstaff's display, manager Eddie Howe had special words for key 25-year-old prodigy star. Joe Willock, returning to Newcastle's PL starting XI through his brilliant display against Chelsea, the midfield ace stood excellent in link-up play against Arsenal.
Similar to the fixture against Chelsea in the EFL Cup, Willock aided the club's forward play, tuning perfectly with seasoned stars Joelinton and Isak. Be it making crucial runs on the left wing or key passes up front, the midfield ace performed a crucial role in Newcastle's 1-0 win against Arsenal. Deservedly, Eddie Howe had massive praise for the 25-year-old, who remarked,
"“I think Joe is really well-liked within the squad. He’s got really good relationships when he’s on the team, with players around him.""Eddie Howe
Stressing out on Willock's link-up plays with Joelinton and Alexander Isak, Howe mentioned,
"“He dovetails really well with Joelinton, and you could see them interchanging positions today. Joe and Alex [Isak] also have a really good relationship on the pitch, and naturally, when you have those feelings around certain players, it can elevate the players around you.""Eddie Howe
Although Joe Willock had a tough start to the 2024/25 campaign, it feels like the prodigy is returning to form, similar to Newcastle's whole unit. Having delivered masterclass performances against Chelsea and Arsenal, much expectation would be for him to continue the same way going forward.