English Premier League
Result: Newcastle United 0-1 Arsenal
Date: 11 August 2019
Venue: St Jame's Park
Arsenal got their Premier League campaign off to a winning start with a 1-0 victory over Newcastle United at St James Park on Sunday. The visitors were dominating possession in the early few minutes of the game, keeping the ball well in their own half, but Newcastle were pressing high to prevent them from having any time or space. The Magpies had the first decent attempt of the game in the 17th minute. Matt Ritchie whipped a lovely ball into the box towards Joelinton, who got his head to the ball ahead of Callum Chambers and tried to glance it into the far corner of the net, but it flew just wide. Soon after, a fiercely struck volley from Jonjo Shelvey hit the outside of the right-hand upright and went behind. The Gunners had their first decent opportunity in the 23rd minute. A long ball over the top found Nacho Monreal, who cut the ball back to Henrik Mkhitaryan, but he blasted the ball high over the crossbar, when he should at least have gotten it on target and tested Dubravka. In the 27th minute, Joelinton had another good opportunity for Newcastle. This time he managed to work the chance himself, showing good feet to beat a couple of Arsenal defenders on the edge of the box and work space for the shot. However, he fired the ball straight at Leno, who made a good save. Five minutes later, Martin Dubravka was called into action at his near post to deny Pierre Emerick Aubameyang after a lovely ball in behind the Newcastle defence by Mkhitaryan. Click here to find out how you can win a trip for two to watch a Premier League game live in the UK with Cadbury! The hosts did well to keep the Gunners quiet until the 58th minute when Aubameyang broke the deadlock. Ainsley Maitland-Niles nicked the ball off the toes of Jetro Willems, who didn't react quickly enough. Maitland-Niles then broke forward with pace and picked Aubameyang out perfectly in the box, with a lovely chipped ball, with the striker controlling it and then dinking it over Dubravka and in to the back of the net. In the 68th minute, Ritchie drilled a low ball into the penalty area from a corner, which Miguel Almiron met at the near post, but his drilled effort was blocked and went out of play for a corner. Newcastle had another opportunity to equalise in the 89th minute. Allan Saint-Maximin Saint-Maximin did well down the left, but Maitland-Niles managed to get back at him just in time. However, the ball then fell nicely to Joelinton on the edge of the penalty area, but he skied his effort high over the bar. In the end, Unai Emery's side did enough to come away with the three points. 
