TF Player Ratings - Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle Utd

Who shone and who lacked lustre? Scott has your ratings for our final away match of the season

Nick Pope - 7

Found the Arsenal goal-line flirting corners hard to deal with, but luckily for him the home side continually ignored that and played it short and therefore entirely into Pope's hands. Somehow managed to get something on one first half cross and divert it over and did well coming out of his box later on. Did nothing wrong in all honesty. Came up for the injury time corner but it wasn't one of those Jimmy Glass days I'm afraid.

Tino Livramento - 8

One of our better players today, especially in the first half. In the opening twenty minutes, his movement bamboozled Arsenal and playing farther forward added further weight to the claims that's where he's better suited. A lovely one-two set up a Gordon chance and at one point he was clean through as our furthest man forward but didn't look up and the chance was lost. What summed him up today was his 60 yard chase back in injury time to block a cross for a corner which can best be described as lung busting.

Dan Burn - 6

What a difference it would have made if his header hadn't been somehow palmed out in the first quarter. At that stage, Burn’s presence from corners had them all over the shop and it seemed a matter of time before someone would take advantage. However, as the game went on and we were pushed back/ more sloppy, Burn was penned back and forced towards his own goal which he doesnt like at the best of times. Got agitated after being elbowed by Havertz for the 35th time in his career and ended the game in a scrap. Remember the elbow for next season please.

Fabian Schär - 6

Like Burn he coasted the opening half hour and looked very impressive and almost put in the rebound after Burns header was saved. However he got too deep in the opening fateful part of the second half and far too much space was enabled for Rice to score. Did make a great block at one point, but Schär was ruffled and he's never at his best when that happens.

Sven Botman - 6

Probably the most important thing is that he came through another curtailed appearance. After all, as people sometimes forget, he's coming back from a hellish year and a half of injuries. Fairly anonymous apart from a great ball for Livramento and getting knocked over when blocking a shot. Lasted until the hour.

Jacob Murphy - 6

Despite an encouraging first half it didn't really happen after the break and the rare sight of a physically disgruntled Howe on the touchline ended his day as part of a triple substitution. Again, when he was on, he got up and down the pitch and he played that role perfectly. The role however, negates the golden touch he's had in the opposition box most of the season and that was again evident.

Sandro Tonali - 7

Tonali was as composed as usual and those corners caused havoc in the opening quarter, but did tail off as Odegaard dictated the pace of the game in the second half, meaning Tonali was playing far too deep, a direct contrast to the first when he was the first out to press. Rice having too much space may be evidence of that.

Bruno Guimarães - 7

I thought he was really good in the first half. He was everywhere. Bruno, pre-Tonali, was back. He was popping up deep in Arsenal's half while making a load of interceptions and was our man of the match as the half time whistle went. The second half was ragged by all, though, and Bruno can't escape this. Falling over twice late on like Homer Simpson after one too many Duffs wasn't exactly what we needed. Should really have scored in the first ten minutes, a chance I thought was simple, though no one agreed with me.

Anthony Gordon - 5

Just not good enough in the build up to the winning goal. The miscontrol was so costly and he's going to get reminded in the next 24 hours and probably going to be the scapegoat. Looked very dangerous in the first half and almost sneaked one in the far corner after a great move and at that point he looked like the Gordon of the Autumn but by the end he had faded badly and was lucky to stay on.

Harvey Barnes - 5

No middle ground with Barnes is there? It either happens or it doesn't and this was the latter, I'm afraid, and although his shot almost gave us the lead, he seemed to slow a lot of things down and his shot near the end after great work from Osula summed his day up. Subbed late on.

Callum Wilson - 5

Looked really pumped up in the first fifteen minutes and looked good. He looked like he could have been a right pain in the arse but then, well, that was about it. You can't compare him with Isak, it's unfair, but the sheer presence of the Swede, which had them lot shitting their pants in the League Cup semi, just wasn't there with Wilson who looked immobile. Took off as Howe had seen enough on the hour.

SUBSTITUTES

Lewis Miley, for Murphy 62 minutes - 6

Came on to calm things down and that he did. It's no coincidence the fire went out of Arsenal's belly once Miley kept possession and kept the ball. Not rocket science but badly needed when we play this formation.

William Osula, for Wilson 62 minutes - 7

At least he looked a threat. One great move involving him and Bruno should have seen Barnes do better and whenever he got the ball, you thought something might happen, whether that be good or bad you couldn't ignore him.

Emil Krafth, for Botman 62 minutes - 6

Did ok after being instantly booked.

Joe Willock, for Barnes 76 minutes - 5

Set up for him to rub his former side's nose in it when that chance sat up nicely for him to the left of the box but he showed as much control as a bull in a china shop who had been given the wrong change. That will show them.

Scott Robson

Image: Neil Patterson (new resident TF photographer)