BREAKING NEWS: We used to beat them last two seasons with wide margin not until he joined them and changed the narrative of their game”, Newcastle star Tonali Reveals the ONE Arsenal player that really gave them tough time yesterday – Not Eze
Newcastle United suffered an all too familiar fate at St James’ Park on Sunday – and Sandro Tonali thinks he knows exactly why.
The Magpies threw away a late lead to Arsenal in the Premier League as Nick Woltemade’s second goal of the season was first cancelled out by former NUFC man Mikel Merino, and then all three points grasped by Gabriel, six minutes into added time. It’s the second time in the last three games that Newcastle has lost a point in added time, with Liverpool nabbing a 3-2 win in similar circumstances just a few weeks back.
And midfielder Tonali is sure the Magpies need to be a bit more streetwise in these moments, having what they hold a little more than just going for broke.
Sandro Tonali: ‘We need to show some experience’
Speaking to the BBC, Tonali said: “It is difficult after this game, in the last five minutes to lose. But we are professionals and we have to change as quick as possible. We played a good game, especially in the first half. We were concentrated all the time. I think it was a good battle in the midfield but we need to have the maximum concentration in all the 90 minutes. I want to take positives into the next match.
“It was similar (to the Liverpool match) but I think we want to win the game until the last minute. I think sometimes we need to show some experience and maybe today a draw was the perfect result. It is easy to speak and I think we played a good game.”
Newcastle United 1 Arsenal 2 – report
Arsenal scored a 96th-minute winner as Newcastle United suffered a second St James’ Park defeat of the season.
An eventful first half ended with Newcastle leading as Nick Woltemade scored his second goal for the club.
It came after Arsenal were awarded a penalty when Nick Pope brought down Vitor Gyokeres, but referee Jarred Gillett overturned his decision following a lengthy VAR check.
But two goals in the final 10 minutes saw the Gunners flip the result on its head as Mikel Merino scored before Gabriel netted in stoppage time.
Newcastle may feell aggrieved having moments before Gabriel’s winner saw a penalty appeal turned down as Gabriel handled Anthony Elanga’s cross.
Howe made six changes from Wednesday’s 4-1 win over Bradford City in the Carabao Cup, with Nick Pope, Sandro Tonali, Tino Livramento, Jacob Murphy, Nick Woltemade and Dan Burn recalled to the starting XI in place of Aaron Ramsdale, Lewis Miley, Lewis Hall, Emil Krafth, Will Osula and Anthony Elanga.
Many had expected United to line up with a back five but it was a back four with Burn moving out to left-back.
Arsenal thought they’d been given an early penalty after Gyokeres was brought down by Pope inside the area. Referee Gillett initially pointed to the spot but overturned his decision after reviewing the incident at the pitch-side monitor.
Pope kept the Magpies in the game before Woltemade headed the home side in front in the 34th minute when he met Sandro Tonali’s in-swinging cross.
Newcastle continued to hold out until the 84th when Merino equalised from Declan Rice’s cross.
There was then more referee controversy when Anthony Elanga’s cross hit the arm of Gabriel. Gillett waved away the Magpies’ appeals and VAR stuck with the referee’s on-field decision.
Arsenal then won it in the sixth minute of stoppage time when Gabriel headed in Gabriel Martinelli’s corner.
