Arsenal slipped further off the pace at the top of the Premier League table after Alexander Isak’s brilliant early header handed them a 1-0 defeat at Newcastle.
After losing on the road in the league for the first time in 2024 at Bournemouth last time out, the Gunners slumped again at St James’ Park and could find themselves eight points behind leaders Manchester City by the end of the weekend.
Mikel Arteta’s side were trailing for much of the encounter after Isak powered Anthony Gordon’s excellent cross beyond David Raya, and they were flat throughout against their physically dominant and defensively formidable hosts.
Mikel Merino’s shot was blocked on the line by Lewis Hall and Declan Rice’s deflected effort trickled just wide, but Arsenal rarely tested Nick Pope.
Raya was required to prevent Newcastle extending their lead, making saves from Joe Willock and Isak, before another Hall block kept out Leandro Trossard’s volley.
Ethan Nwaneri was brought off the bench after his impressive performance at Preston in midweek but the 17-year-old was unable to turn the tide. In truth – as at Bournemouth – Arsenal were crying out for the creativity of their injured captain, Martin Odegaard.
Stand-in skipper Bukayo Saka finally carved out a chance in the dying moments when his cross found Rice at the far post, but the midfielder’s header slipped wide – and Arsenal’s chances of taking a point back to north London faded away.
“When you create three big chances in the game, you are hoping to score a goal because it is about the fine margins we are always discussing,” said manager Arteta after the game. “But the team should have generated more, that’s my responsibility.”
But credit must also go to Newcastle, who were back to something close to their best after five league games without a win. They move up to eighth – just three points behind their visitors, who cannot afford many more performances like this.
Arteta: We couldn’t find the answers
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta:
“We started the game really well, we were on top of it, we looked sharp and alive and the one action: direct play, second ball, ball out wide – they’re so good at that – unbelievable shot and finish.
“Then the energy shifts, you know the game they want to play is clear. You too often get dragged into that kind of game, we couldn’t find the answers to get out of that.
“You are relying on two or three big chances – the one with Mikel [Merino], two for Declan [Rice], one with Gabriel Jesus. But not enough threat to say we could really change the game and win it. That’s the frustrating part. But credit to Newcastle as well for what they do.
“We’re not going to find the right answers or words now to describe how we feel. We have to put it on the field on Wednesday night against Inter. It’s not about the hope of winning the title. It’s about being our best version of each other every single week. Today we weren’t our best version.
“I didn’t feel that [the players were feeling fear or anxiety]. I would have felt that at the beginning of the game. I didn’t have that feeling. What I did feel is we lacked more purpose and more threat, more capacity to really go and help them.
“We don’t have [Odegaard]. We can discuss that all day long. We haven’t had him for the last four or five, six weeks. And we don’t have him yet. But we have many other answers that are effective. We have to look at ourselves, congratulate Newcastle and then move on.”
Toothless Arsenal crying out for Odegaard return
Sky Sports’ Sam Blitz:
Mikel Arteta said before the game his Arsenal team thrive when they “show their teeth”. Instead, this was a toothless display on the road.
One shot on target, none from open play and Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope was not required to make a save all game. Arsenal’s attack went completely missing.
The Gunners created 1.11 expected goals, so should have found the net at St James’ Park. But the vast majority of the total came from Mikel Merino’s blocked shot and Declan Rice’s late miss. For long periods of the game, Arsenal failed to break down Newcastle’s mid-block and they were missing something.
It appears that if Arsenal have any ambitions to win the Premier League title, or even challenge for it, then Martin Odegaard needs to return from injury quickly. Even after missing the last six weeks of the season, the Arsenal captain has more chances created from open play than any top-flight player.
Odegaard would have provided that killer touch Arsenal missed at Newcastle. He may return in midweek for Inter Milan but has his return already come too late?
Howe: It wasn’t the game we expected
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe:
“Everyone played a big part in that win today. It’s been a good few days for us, it goes to show how football can change quite quicky. Two good performances against two good teams. Today was about heart, determination, desire and quality as well. Two good days for us.
“It was a low game on chance-creation today, neither team created an abundance of goalscoring opportunities, but that comes down to the quality of the sides and how difficult it was to break our defensive line or their defensive quality. One moment of quality wins the game and it’s fine margins in the Premier League.
“We know it’s been inconsistency. In the last few games our performance level has increased. Initially, the results didn’t come, now we have to make sure that level stays.
“It wasn’t necessarily the path or the game we envisaged it would be, but we had to adapt. The second half, we had to be smart with what we did. A big credit to everybody in how they defended the goal.”
Pumped-up Newcastle bruise flat Arsenal again
Sky Sports’ Joe Shread:
Twice in the second half, Newcastle players celebrated successful defensive actions as if they had scored a goal. Bruno Guimaraes winning a throw-in – cue exuberant fist pumps. Joelinton outmuscling Gabriel at the far post – bring on the roar in front of thousands of baying home fans.
This was the kind of Newcastle performance that has made Eddie Howe’s side such a tough nut to crack during most of his time in charge – and also served to remind us what they had been missing during a five-game winless run.
Newcastle have beaten Arsenal without conceding a goal in their of their last four meetings at St James’ Park
The Magpies had been too easy to run through, too easy to score against and too easy to overpower for much of this campaign. But this all changed against Arsenal, who have now suffered defeat – and failed to score – on three of their last four visits to St James’ Park.
Newcastle seem to relish taking on Arteta’s side, embracing the opportunity to frustrate, battle and bruise their title-chasing opponents. Maintain this level, and Howe’s outfit will be back in the mix for the top four.
