Alan Shearer says Jacob Murphy was one of the very few players who could hold his head up high after he ‘won his battle’ against Oleksandr Zinchenko during Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Newcastle United on Sunday.
The Newcastle United legend added that Jacob Murphy was one of his side’s ‘better players’ and he forced Mikel Arteta to substitute Oleksandr Zinchenko on the hour mark.
Within the first minute, the 28-year-old hit the post when his effort from inside of the penalty area beat everyone, including Aaron Ramsdale in between the sticks.
It was a very cagey opening from the home side, whose fans were getting right on top of the Arsenal players and making their life as difficult as possible.
Inside ten minutes, Eddie Howe’s men thought they had a penalty, but it was overturned, with Shearer and Ian Wright arguing about that call.
That’s when the Premier League title-chasers became comfortable and they were then the better team, with Shearer picking out one positive from his own side, as he told Premier League Productions (07/05/23 at 6:50 pm).
“There wasn’t many Newcastle players that won their individual battles,” said Shearer. “Murphy won his battle against Zinchenko because Mikel had to take him off. He gave him a really tough afternoon.
“He was one of Newcastle’s better players.”
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOOTBALL FOR ARSENAL AND NEWCASTLE
It’s signed, sealed and delivered for Arsenal because they will return against the elite next season, it’s just a case of hoping Manchester City slip-up in the race for the title.
As for the Magpies, they haven’t got over the line yet, but it’s only a matter of time, as they face off against a familiar face in new Leeds United boss, Sam Allardyce at the weekend.
But, come next season, two of English football’s great clubs will be back fighting it out against the elite, unless there is a Kevin Keegan-esque slip-up from Newcastle on their way to the Champions League finishing line.
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