Newcastle United has put a huge dent in Arsenal’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League by defeating them 2-0 in the Premier League on Monday. The Gunners who are now dwindling on the fifth spot just two points shy of Tottenham Hotspur have no one but themselves to blame for their utter misery.
The odds also favour Spurs as a superior goal difference works to their advantage. All that Antonio Conte would ask of his side is to secure a point against an already relegated side, Norwich City, and play Champions League football next season.
Arsenal were all over the place against the Magpies. The home advantage worked wonders for Newcastle, who mostly had the Gunners by their throat.
It was an unfortunate own goal from Arsenal’s defender Ben White and a robust strike in the 85th minute from Newcastle’s impeccable January signing Bruno Guimaraes that sealed the win for the Magpies, who now sit comfortably at the 12th spot in the Premier League table.
The Brazilian midfielder, Bruno, was the star of the match and now has 5+ goal involvements in his 10 starts for Newcastle. After his blasting performance, he surely has registered himself as an indispensable member of Eddie Howe’s side. With this win, Newcastle also ended their four-year winless drought over Arsenal that had hung over them since April 2018 in the Premier League.
But Newcastle fans have more than just their players to thank for where they are right now. While applauding the performances of players on the pitch, the fans also have their new owners to thank for their remarkable turnaround this season.
Newcastle were rotting away in the bottom three at Christmas but a small spending spree in the January transfer window allowed the Magpies to get out of the pothole and secure a Premier League spot for the next season.
One of the owners, the British executive, Amanda Staveley, who owns a 10% stake in Newcastle United, was seen exchanging pleasantries after her side’s impressive win over Arsenal. Staveley, who has been eyeing buying a share in Newcastle for some time, was shunned by the club on two previous occasions until October 2021, along with Reuben Brothers and Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), she was successfully able to takeover.
Staveley was also in the news back in 2008 when she helped Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed of the Abu Dhabi family to purchase Manchester City for a whopping sum of £210 million.
The superwoman was on the pitch celebrating the win over Arsenal with the Newcastle players when cameras caught her hugging and high-fiving Bruno Guimaraes, embodying the emotion of every Newcastle fan in the stadium and across the world.
She was seen sharing a joke with Bruno, who seemed in high spirits, reciprocating the energetic vibe which she brought to the pitch with her.
Even though some football fans have criticized her in the past for spoiling Newcastle with oil money but the Newcastle fans have always kept her in high regard and admire her as the Queen of the North.
Newcastle United has completely revived itself under the tutelage of its new owners. The fans are happy; the stands are full and there is equal admiration from all the parties involved with the club’s performances.
It’s a perfect give and take relationship where the owners are taking care of the needs of the club and the players and the players have been rewarding them with wins on the trot.
Newcastle are looking ahead to a new breed of healthy relationships amongst their fans and owners and the next season promises to be one of great joy and surprises. Bruno is just the tip of the iceberg and with Amanda at the helm, the Magpies are hopeful to be rubbing shoulders with the best in the business.