---
title: "Fans on social media slate ‘terrible’ Joe Willock for ‘appalling’ performance"
canonical: "https://readnewcastle.com/2021/11/29/fans-on-social-media-slate-terrible-joe-willock-for-appalling-performance/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Crippy Cooke"
section: "Exclude"
published: "2021-11-29T18:00:40Z"
modified: "2022-05-25T15:07:14Z"
---

# Fans on social media slate ‘terrible’ Joe Willock for ‘appalling’ performance

Newcastle United’s poor start to the season continued with a [2-0 defeat to Arsenal on Saturday](https://www.nufc.co.uk/matches/first-team/2021-22/arsenal-v-newcastle-united/) afternoon. The Magpies are still winless in the Premier League this campaign and look destined for the drop if things don’t improve.

Jamaal Lascelles put in a poor performance at centre-back, but he wasn’t the only player to struggle. Joe Willock was also below-par at the Emirates and was given a player rating of 5/10 by [Chronicle Live](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/arsenal-newcastle-united-player-ratings-22295086). The 22-year-old was busy but ineffective and was criticised by supporters on [social media](https://twitter.com/search?q=joe%20willock&src=typed_query&f=live) as a result.

> I've thought the same with willock he's been terrible , I don't think he's a cm thou more effective playing just behind strikers maybe , I'd be happy to see us buy 2 proper CM in jan
>
> — ᴍᴀᴛᴛ (@MRB1892) [November 29, 2021](https://twitter.com/MRB1892/status/1465327924249346050?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

https://twitter.com/itsmeritson/status/1464679950477312007?s=20

https://twitter.com/scottjwatson94/status/1464949448715477000?s=20

> Willock unfortunately is unfit and was poor against Brentford so had little chance to be fit for Arsenal. Hayden makes us more solid. We are a very poor team and when ASM and Wilson don’t perform we have 0 chance. To be fair Jones had us well set up we just hated the football.
>
> — Richard Wearmouth (@Rickardo\_nufc) [November 28, 2021](https://twitter.com/Rickardo_nufc/status/1464903489495216131?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> this season willock has been very poor tho
>
> — sam? (@spinningplat3s) [November 28, 2021](https://twitter.com/spinningplat3s/status/1464980925155057665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Drop Willock he has been poor
>
> — Al (@AlanIrvine8) [November 29, 2021](https://twitter.com/AlanIrvine8/status/1465350035030298627?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

[Against Arsenal](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1549659/LiveStatistics/England-Premier-League-2021-2022-Arsenal-Newcastle-United), Willock played for 90 minutes, had 46 touches, won one aerial duel, completed 82.6% of his 23 passes, had one shot which hit the target, whipped in one cross, made four tackles, blocked one shot, made two interceptions, gave away two fouls, made one clearance and had two successful dribbles.

The 22-year-old [joined](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/joe-willock/transfers/spieler/340329) Newcastle on a six-year deal from Arsenal over the summer and has gone on to make [12 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/joe-willock/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/340329) in all competitions. Willock has not been at his best since turning the move permanent, so Howe might have some decisions to make on who to start against Norwich City on Tuesday evening.

***[In other news, fans on social media blast ‘awful’ Jamaal Lascelles for ‘terrible’ performance](https://readnewcastle.com/2021/11/29/fans-on-social-media-blast-awful-jamaal-lascelles-for-terrible-performance/)***