“They seemed almost eager for me to find the net against them, with David Raya even coming close to allowing me a second goal” – Joe Willock, Newcastle’s sole scorer last night, delivers a sincere interview and conveys a message to Arsenal supporters after Newcastle United’s loss.

Following Newcastle United’s 4-1 loss to Arsenal, Joe Willock expressed his gratitude to Arsenal supporters for the warm reception upon his return to the Emirates Stadium. Recovering from an Achilles injury, Willock, who entered as a substitute, managed to score, acknowledging the disappointment of not securing three points for Newcastle.

Reviewing the match, Willock acknowledged Arsenal’s elite status and their impressive first-half performance, leading to goals by Sven Botman and Kai Havertz. He believed Newcastle could have performed better initially but expressed optimism about their second-half reaction, emphasizing the need to carry that momentum into future games.

Having joined Newcastle for £25 million in 2021, Willock recognized the bittersweet nature of his return to Arsenal. Despite personal success in scoring, he lamented the overall outcome and the team’s failure to secure a victory. Despite the result, he conveyed gratitude to Arsenal for their role in his development from the academy to the main team, underscoring the significant impact the club had on his career since the age of four and a half.