Joe Willock says he is ‘grateful’ to Arsenal supporters for the reception he received during Newcastle United’s 4-1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Mikel Arteta’s side ran out deserved winners and delivered a dominant first-half display in which they led through an own goal from Sven Botman and a close-range finish from Kai Havertz.
Bukayo Saka and Jakub Kiwior also found the net for Arsenal in the second half before Willock, who came on as a substitute having returned from an Achilles injury, scored on his return to the Emirates Stadium.
Willock, who joined Newcastle in a £25 million deal in 2021, received a warm reception from Arsenal’s supporters inside the Emirates and the midfielder says he is ‘thankful’ to the club having progressed through their academy to the first team.
‘We knew what we were getting into when we came here, they [Arsenal] are a really top side, they play good football,’ Willock told TNT Sports.
‘In the first half I thought we could’ve done better but I thought second half we reacted and we have to take the second half to the next game.’
