David De Gea’s error allowed Said Benrahma to score the winner in West Ham’s 1-0 victory that eased relegation fears, while Manchester United suffered a second successive loss in the Premier League and risk being locked out of the top four.
Super Sunday saw Arsenal move back to within a point of Premier League leaders Manchester City — who have a game in hand. Martin Odegaard’s strike and Fabian Schar’s own-goal proved enough to seal a tough 0-2 victory at St James’ Park.
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Arsenal showed their relentless fighting spirit going into the game and stuck to their principles with Martin Odegaard firing them in front from 30 yards on 14 minutes before a Fabian Schar own-goal wrapped it up in the second half.
Arsenal title hunt with Newcastle win
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, speaking to Sky Sports after the game said: “They showed what it takes to come here, in this environment, against a great team, what it takes to win. The desire to keep digging, keep believing, with a reward which is so big. We had to do it today and we did everything we had to do to win the game.”
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However, Newcastle had won eight of their last nine games and suffered defeat just twice in their last 24 Premier League home games. Astonishingly, the Magpies could not find a route to the goal despite Jacob Murphy and Alexander Isak striking the woodwork.
The 0-2 defeat to Arsenal at home leaves them with work to do if they hope to claim a top-four finish.
Manager Mikel Arteta admitted that defeat was part of the motivation ahead of this clash and admitted so when he said: “My players had revenge in their minds after last year,”
Eddie Howe paired Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson in his attack for the first time in the Premier League as Anthony Gordon dropped to the bench.
Arteta after the game said: “Sport always gives you another opportunity, and then you have to take it, and learn from those moments and see how you felt in those moments to overcome it and act in a different way. The team did that really well today.”
Mikel Arteta made one change from the win over Chelsea with Gabriel Martinelli replacing Leandro Trossard in attack as Jorginho continued to keep Thomas Partey out of the side.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, speaking to Sky Sports after the game said: “Fine margins for us and we just came out on the wrong side of them. We missed some big chances in the game and it just wasn’t quite there for us. I am sure I will look back at some moments and rue some moments we didn’t get quite right.
“If Jacob’s (Murphy) chance goes in early on, it is a totally different game. There are loads of things we will look back on and think could have gone our way and didn’t.
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Arsenal’s remaining fixtures
- May 13: Brighton (H) – Premier League, kick-off 5 pm
- May 20: Nottingham Forest (A) – Premier League, kick-off 7.30 pm
- May 28: Wolves (H) – Premier League, kick-off 6.30 pm
De Gea’s future under scrutiny after West Ham mistake
A fatal error by David De Gea doomed Manchester United to a 1-0 loss against West Ham at the London Stadium which now needles their top-four hopes at risk.
Benrahma’s tame, long-range effort in the first half should have been a routine save for the goalkeeper David de Gea. However, despite getting a hand at it, he could not stop it from bobbling over the line.
Manchester United, beaten 1-0 by Brighton last time out and only a point ahead of fifth-placed Liverpool, appeared in control of the game before De Gea’s mistake.
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The Red Devils could ultimately have lost by a greater margin, with the hosts dominating much of the second half as they took a huge step towards Premier League survival.
Declan Rice, Tomas Soucek and Nayef Aguerd returned for West Ham having missed the 3-0 loss to Man City with illness.
Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag started Wout Weghorst instead of Anthony Martial and reinstated Christian Eriksen in midfield.
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When Coach Erik Ten Hag was asked whether he still trusts David De Gea he said:
“We want him to stay and we want him to extend his contract.
“He has the most clean sheets in the Premier League. We would not be here in this position without him. He has my belief. No concerns.
“That happens, but I think as a team you have to deal with it, you have to show character and be resilient and bounce back.
“I think we started well. We dictated the game. We created chances. But we didn’t take them. And then, one mistake. But even then, until halftime, I think we played a decent game.
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Man Utd’s remaining fixtures
- May 13: Wolves (H) – Premier League, kick-off 5 pm
- May 20: Bournemouth (A) – Premier League, kick-off 5 pm
- May 25: Chelsea (H) – Premier League, kick-off 10 pm
- May 28: Fulham (H) – Premier League, kick-off 6.30 pm
- June 3: Manchester City (N) – FA Cup final, kick-off 5 pm
