Nigerian striker earns first senior call-up as Arsenal's perfect home record ends 

Published: January 03, 2023
Nigerian striker earns first senior call-up as Arsenal's perfect home record ends 

Arsenal's perfect home record in the Premier League ended on Tuesday night at the Emirates Stadium after they were held to a goalless draw by Newcastle United. 

 

The Gunners ended their winning streak at home but ensured that they ended with a clean sheet and now lead the table with a eight-point gap over Manchester City. 

 

Hale End Academy product Nathan Butler-Oyedeji received his first call-up for a competitive first team game but was on the bench for Arsenal throughout the duration of the match.

 

The London-born Nigerian striker traveled with the first team to Dubai for the warm weather training camp during the FIFA World Cup. 

 

 Butler-Oyedeji has frequently trained with the first team since the start of the season and is top scorer for Arsenal U21s with six goals in all competitions.

 

Arsenal controlled most of the ball and created better chances in the first half with Martin Ødegaard firing over the bar just four minutes in before Saka forced a good save from Nick Pope just a minute later. 

 

Newcastle grew into the half slowly but failed to have a clear sight at goal. 

 

The match began to heat up as the referee showed five yellow cards in a 15-minute spell, three for Arsenal and two for Newcastle, but neither side could take the lead. 

 

In the 34th minute, Odegaard drew a foul from Joelinton in the attacking half for Arsenal. He took the free-kick himself and found Gabriel in the box. The defender's header was just wide of the right post.

 

The best chance of the half fell to Joelinton in added time as his header went narrowly wide of target.

 

Arsenal had an electrifying start to the first half and tried to replicate it in the second half but the Magpies defended brilliantly and were hard to break down.

 

The Gunners pressed for the opening goal of the contest but it ended on a scoreless note.

 

 

 Izuchukwu Michael

 

 

Photo Credit : premierleague.com

 

 

Copyright ANS


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