Bukayo Saka has paid tribute to Newcastle United for defending 'really well' and 'making it difficult' for Arsenal in the first half of the Magpies' 2-0 defeat at the Emirates.
Newcastle have a wretched record against Arsenal - losing 18 of their last 19 meetings - but Eddie Howe's side actually made a decent start in the capital on Saturday.
Although Arsenal dominated possession, the visitors frustrated the Gunners with their rigid defensive shape in the opening 45 minutes of the game.
Martin Dubravka, admittedly, had to make two important saves to deny Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe in the first half, but Jonjo Shelvey also forced Aaron Ramsdale into a fine stop, himself, after the Arsenal goalkeeper tipped the midfielder's effort onto the crossbar.
However, Arsenal upped the intensity after the break and Saka broke the deadlock in the 56th minute before substitute Gabriel Martinelli doubled the hosts' advantage a short time later as the Gunners' perseverance paid off.
"We had to be patient," Saka told BT Sport. "They defended really well and they made it difficult for us in the first half.
"The boss told us at half-time, 'Don't let them frustrate us' and I think we listened to that, got the goals and could have got more in the end."
The result leaves the winless Magpies rooted to the bottom of the table and even Saka's father, Yomi, may have had mixed feelings after the game because he is a big Newcastle fan.
Indeed, one of the first games Saka remembers attending with his father was Newcastle's trip to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United when he was a young boy.
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