HOTSHOT golden oldie Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put favourite foes Newcastle to the sword with a stunning quickfire double in Marseille.
The 36-year-old, booted out of Arsenal in 2022 before flopping at Chelsea, scored two inside the first five minutes of the second half to seal the Champions League win after Harvey Barnes’ early opener.
Eddie Howe warned pre-match the veteran was back at his very best since signing for Robert De Zerbi last summer.
And the Gabonese goal-getter, who scored five times in eight Premier League matches against the Mags, lived up to the hype at a bouncing Orange Velodrome.
All the talk beforehand was about Mason Greenwood, and particularly who would stop him.
When Dan Burn’s name appeared on the team sheet, you could not help but fear the worst for the giant Geordie up against the speedster.
However, Howe had a trick up his sleeve that caught Marseille cold.
He ditched his beloved 4-3-3, instead switching to a back five, with Tino Livramento down the left marshalling the controversial ex-Manchester United man.
And it worked an absolute treat as they got off to a lightning start.
Malick Thiaw had already had a header cleared off the line by the time Barnes fired them into a sixth-minute lead.
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Joe Willock fed Sandro Tonali free down the right of the area.
Anthony Gordon’s flick from the Italian’s cutback was deflected, and it fell perfectly for the onrushing winger to finish past Geronimo Rulli from ten yards with his left foot.
It did not last.
Marseille retaliated, enjoying plenty of the ball, with the Mags content to sit deep and catch them on the counter.
Greenwood was the main architect for the French giants, laying three on for Aubameyang.
Nick Pope saved the ex-Arsenal man’s first at the near post with ease.
The star’s second attempt came with a chest and turn, but the Toon goalie was up to it once more, before he headed a third effort wide.
Timothy Weah curled inches wide and Darryl Bakola’s shocking dive in the box, which earned him a booking, summed up Marseille’s frustrations.
Though that all nearly changed when they were almost gifted an equaliser.
Fabian Schar took a quick free-kick on the edge of his own box to Tonali, who was caught half asleep as it was nicked off him.
It came to Aubameyang, but just as he was about to pull the trigger, lunging Thiaw’s stud knocked it away.
Toon had their own breakaways, with Gordon forcing the Marseille goalie into a stop before his hesitation saw a great opportunity to double the lead go begging.
Willock’s low cross looked perfect for the winger to finish as Rulli dived towards him, but he let the ball go past him and the Argentina international and the chance went.
It proved costly as the second-half collapse began instantly.
Pope’s headloss inside the first minute of the restart presented Aubameyang with the leveller.
He charged 40 yards from his line to try and get to a through ball before the striker.
There was never a chance he would get to it first, and Auba knocked it straight round him and finished brilliantly from a tight angle way out on the right.
It was a disastrous start that was about to get much worse as he grabbed his second to turn the scoreline on its head.
Weah beat Livramento and whipped it in low for Aubameyang to get in front of Schar and finish inside Pope’s near post.
Marseille had Newcastle on the ropes.
Pope’s arm prevented Greenwood from making it three and something needed to change fast if Howe’s men were to rescue something.
But even the introduction of Nick Woltemade off the bench failed to provide the ammunition for a late fightback.
That is three away games on the spin Howe’s men have lost after taking the lead.
And with a trip to Everton up next on Saturday, he does not have long to find the cure for his side’s worrying travel sickness.
