On what could have proved a difficult night for Arsenal against Newcastle United, Mikel Arteta’s side were absolutely rampant.
Perhaps Arteta oversaw Arsenal’s best first half of the season, one inspired by Martin Odegaard’s excellent pressing.
As is often the case, the Arsenal captain was leading the line for his side and set the tone from the off.
Arsenal showed the exact kind of start and performance they’ll need against Porto in the second leg of their Champions League tie in a couple of weeks time.
And given Arteta’s need for goals in that game, one Premier League record that Arsenal broke last night could bode very well.
Kai Havertz was on the scoresheet again, proving his rich credentials as a number nine.
Moreover, Bukayo Saka certainly demonstrated to Rio Ferdinand that he is in the top bracket of players in world football.
And given both those two goals mentioned were accompanied by one more either side of half-time, Arsenal did set a new Premier League record.
Having beat Newcastle 4-1 last night, Arsenal became the first side to score two or more goals in seven consecutive halves of football.
Arsenal set Premier League record after scoring four more goals against Newcastle last night
That record was shared during TNT Sports’ live coverage of the win last night.
And Mikel Arteta will surely be absolutely delighted that Arsenal are now starting games so fast, even if they did struggle in Portugal.
That being said, conditions were against Arsenal that evening against a clever Porto side.
And perhaps Newcastle would have been well advised to take a note out of Sergio Conceicao’s book when travelling to Arsenal last night.
Eddie Howe’s side simply couldn’t cope with the pace Arsenal were playing the game, and failed to frustrate Arteta’s side by delaying the game as they often have done previously.
Moreover, speaking of Newcastle’s inefficiencies at the Emirates last night, Emile Smith Rowe was able to do something no opposition player could in his short cameo.
And perhaps proved why he could be crucial for Arsenal in the last few months of the season.