Well, what can I say about that game? Olivier Giroud was on fire again; Aaron Ramsey his usual over-enthuastic self. I thought it was all over at the half-time whistle but the way the second half played out was to prove my supposition totally incorrect.
What exactly happened in the changing rooms? Maybe Arsene Wenger didn’t think the Arsenal players needed a pep talk. Maybe someone slipped some bromide into the players’ tea. Whatever it was when Arsenal came back out onto the pitch for the second half they played a totally different game. It was certainly a turnaround and, although we bagged the three points at the final whistle, those points didn’t end up coming our way all that easily …
What a tale of two halves. Arsenal coasting in the first. Newcastle pounding us in the second. Brilliant, almost undeserved, 3-pts. Love it.
— FK² (@fkhanage) March 21, 2015
FT: 1-2 Arsenal. Not ideal and lead to some nervy Gooners here…second half was dire. Giroud was great, though. 3 points; all that matters.
— Boston Gooners (@BostonGooners) March 21, 2015
FT!!! 2-1 Arsenal! Three points! Very poor second half, but the three points is all that matters!
— wilshere_team10 (@wilshere_team10) March 21, 2015
Good first half, dreadful second half. Important to win games like that though. Massive 3 points.
— Jòey (@Iordjoey) March 21, 2015
Despite being bossed that entire second half Arsenal managed to hold on. Scrappy 3pts, something you don’t often say with #AFC
— CFC Babble (@CFCbabble) March 21, 2015
A plea not to slate Arsenal for their poor second half performance:
Don’t just slate the 2nd half performance, let’s also remember we’ve been begging for a team that can FIGHT for years. Well done @Arsenal.
— Moh Haider (@ArsenalMoh8) March 21, 2015
But they did:
A poor hopeless performance in the second half #NUFCvAFC
— Nick (@TheArsenal77) March 21, 2015
Absolutely dreadful second half performance, we’re so lucky to have gotten away with all three points
— Passenal (@Passenal1) March 21, 2015
Not really an Arsenal game unless you’re tearing up in the second half and trying to bargain your life away for good defending
— Zeets as Miles Davis (@Phaetonv2) March 21, 2015
Arrogant Arsenal seem to have come out for the 2nd half…. #AFC
— Carl Bövis (@CarlBovis_AFC) March 21, 2015
And here’s why:
SECOND-HALF SHOT MAP: Newcastle 7-2 Arsenal. pic.twitter.com/q8RZ7jFNCd
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) March 21, 2015
It appeared that even Wenger was left wondering what on earth had happened:
Arsene Wenger summing up exactly how every Arsenal fan felt during that second half. #AFC pic.twitter.com/bZP4P5necs
— Yakatak Football (@YakatakFootball) March 21, 2015