Alexander Isak’s goal was the decisive moment as Arsenal faltered in their Premier League clash with Newcastle at St. James' Park.
Despite a promising start from Arsenal, they struggled to regain control after Isak’s goal, showing a lack of creativity in their attack. In the second half, Mikel Arteta made substitutions in an attempt to dismantle Newcastle’s sturdy defense, yet his side could only manage one shot on target during the entire match.
This win propels Newcastle up to eighth in the league standings, while Arsenal holds onto third place. However, if Manchester City defeats Bournemouth later on Saturday, Arsenal could fall eight points behind the league leaders. Arteta had mentioned before the match that discussing the title race was premature, but this loss puts his team in a challenging position.
Injuries have posed issues for Arsenal, though Gabriel and Jurrien Timber returned to the lineup after last week’s draw with Liverpool. William Saliba also made a comeback following suspension. Bukayo Saka’s fitness has been a lingering concern, yet he played 85 minutes against Liverpool, made a brief appearance in the midweek victory over Preston, and started against Newcastle. However, the absence of Martin Odegaard, whose creativity and vision were sorely missed, was evident in Arsenal’s struggles
Last season, this fixture ended with the same scoreline, though it was controversial due to Gordon’s goal being subject to multiple VAR checks, all in Newcastle’s favor, which Arteta criticized. This time, however, Arteta could hardly contest the outcome as Newcastle appeared to be the better team.
Arsenal had the majority of possession in the second half, but their attack lacked precision. Declan Rice came close to equalizing in the final moments, yet his header went wide.
Arteta’s squad was unbeaten until their 2-0 loss to Bournemouth two weeks ago. Now, without a victory in three consecutive league games, Arsenal is losing ground to its title competitors. Newcastle, on the other hand, was in 10th place and without a win in their last five league games, raising concerns about their form.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe credited his team’s confidence to their 2-0 triumph over Chelsea in the EFL Cup on Wednesday. Isak’s early goal gave Newcastle a boost, allowing them to control the tempo.
This year, only Manchester City’s Erling Haaland (24) and Chelsea’s Cole Palmer (21) have scored more Premier League goals than Isak, who has 17. Newcastle’s defense was outstanding, with full-backs Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento neutralizing Arsenal’s wingers, Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.
In the second half, Joe Willock nearly extended Newcastle’s lead, and Isak’s powerful strike was thwarted by Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya. Yet, Newcastle’s defense was the highlight, with disciplined performances that disrupted Arsenal’s rhythm.
Last season, Newcastle struggled to maintain the momentum they needed for a top-four finish due to their commitments in both domestic and European competitions. This victory, however, renews their hopes of reaching similar heights this season.