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2019 Rashford On The Aubameyang Fires Gunners To
Winning Start At Newcastle
14th, P i e r r e - E m e r i c k

August Double As Manchester Aubameyang ensured Steve
Bruce’s reign as Newcastle

| United Thrash Chelsea head coach began with a defeat
as Arsenal launched their new
EXAMINER with victory on Tyneside.
Premier League campaign
assured
Aubameyang’s
58th-minute strike was enough to secure a 1-0 victory in a
IRISH tight encounter at a rain-soaked St James’ Park.
The game was played out in front of a crowd of 47,635,
almost 5,000 below capacity, as some fans staged a boy-
cott over owner Mike Ashley’s running of the club, and
while the Magpies gave as good as they got for long peri-
ods – Jonjo Shelvey hit a post before the break – they
struggled to create chances and were made to pay for it.
Arsenal boss Unai Emery largely kept his powder dry
as summer signings Dani Ceballos, Nicolas Pepe and
Gabriel Martinelli were introduced from the bench, but
they headed home satisfied with a sixth win in seven visits
to St James’.
Both sides started with intent, the Gunners moving the
ball confidently at the back and looking to find space for
Aubameyang, while Newcastle debutante Joelinton put
himself about up front, with Miguel Almiron probing
behind him.
Arsenal enjoyed the better of the possession but, with
arcus Rashford’s Reds’ latest transitional season a dream 4-0 victory. defences on top, keepers Martin Dubravka and Bernd
double helped ram- against a side buoyed by the Solskjaer will be first to Leno spent the first 15 minutes of the season as virtual
Mpant Manchester appointment of a club great. admit the display was far from spectators.
United start the new season Lampard’s side were on top perfect, but this win was just ThatchangedwithinminutesafterAlmironturnedand
with a bang as Chelsea capit- for large patches but ended up the tonic after a summer of dis- broke swiftly before setting up Javier Manquillo to send a
ulated in Frank Lampard’s being blown away at Old content. cross just over the head of Joelinton, who sent a glancing
first match in charge. Trafford, where Rashford’s Chelsea had started the effort just wide after Matt Ritchie had recycled the ball.
The Premier League kept the double complemented goals brighter on Sunday and Tammy Leno was saved by the frame of the goal after Shelvey’s
most eagerly anticipated of the from Anthony Martial and Abraham and Emerson deflected 20th-minute shot had eluded his outstretched
opening weekend to last as Ole debutant Daniel James as Palmieri efforts off the wood- arm, although Dubravka was relieved to see Henrikh
Gunnar Solskjaer started the United’s curtain-raiser ended in work bookended an entertain- Mkhitaryan sky his effort high over at the other end with
ing opening period in which Nacho Monreal causing problems down the left three
Rashford’s spot-kick was the minutes later.
difference. Joelinton fired straight at Leno after barging his way
Lampard’s new-look side through a flimsy looking Gunners rearguard as
continued to show promise as Newcastle warmed to their task, but Dubravka was
the second half got underway, called upon for the first time with 14 minutes of the first
only for United to show a ruth- half remaining to beat away Aubameyang’s stinging drive
less edge sorely lacking in at his near post.
recent seasons. Almiron cleared the crossbar with a speculative 39th-
Harry Maguire, this week minute attempt from distance, but the sides remained
made the most expensive locked together as the half-time whistle sounded.
defender in history, won the The visitors almost forced the breakthrough when
ball, starting a move that ended Granit Xhaka picked out Aubameyang with an astute
with Martial celebrating the pass, but Paul Dummett blocked the striker’s 52nd-
return of his number nine jer- minute shot and saw the ball loop up on to the roof of the
sey by turning in an Andreas net.
Pereira cross. But the Gabon international was not to be denied and
Chelsea were punch-drunk fired his side ahead six minutes later when full-back
and Paul Pogba put a summer Ainsley Maitland-Niles picked off Dummett’s attempted
of speculation behind him by pass to substitute Jetro Williams and then crossed for the
superbly putting in Rashford to frontman to control before lifting the ball over the advanc-
fire home. ing Dubravka.
New boy James came off the Bruce sent on winger Allan Saint-Maximin with 24
bench to score a deflected effort minutes remaining and the Frenchman wasted little time
in front of the Stretford End fol- in forcing his way into the game with a dangerous run and
lowing more fine work by cross within seconds of his arrival, then forcing Leno into
Pogba and, if that was not a late save after cutting inside, but his efforts ultimately
enough, United kept a clean proved in vain. C
sheet. C