Newcastle 1 Arsenal 0: Gunners dealt major Premier League title blow as Gordon’s magical cross sets up early Isak winner
IF THIS was Alexander Isak’s Arsenal audition then he passed it with flying colours – but he threw a huge grenade in the title hopes of his potential future employers.
Newcastle’s Swedish striker, 25, has been on Mikel Arteta’s radar for months after his blistering form last term.
Alexander Isak headed in a superb opener for Newcastle[/caption]
The Swedish striker gave David Raya no chance[/caption]
After contract talks were put on hold and with just one goal in his opening seven appearances this season, talk of a £130million transfer appeared to be way off.
But what a difference a week makes as his third strike in just six days left Arsenal looking more like title pretenders than contenders as they suffered a second consecutive away defeat for the first time since May 2022.
Arteta’s tactics were spot on early on, opting for a direct approach in order to beat the Toon press, unlike Chelsea in midweek.
There were no short kicks from goalie David Raya, with 6ft 2in Mikel Merino preferred in the middle to help support Kai Havertz and the attackers rather than Jorginho.
Meanwhile, the Magpies were struggling to work out how to stop inverted full-back Jurrien Timber.
And it was the Dutchman, who Anthony Gordon seemed unsure whether to track back with or not, who provided Bukayo Saka with Arsenal’s first chance that was smashed into the side-netting.
But Newcastle had the perfect response by going classic route one themselves and it produced the opener on 12 minutes.
The move started with a long ball forward from Tino Livramento from right-back deep into the opposition half and his team-mates reacted fast to win it.
Sean Longstaff spotted man-of-the-match Gordon free down the right, slipping in the winger to hit a brilliant first-time cross for Isak to ghost in between two defenders to head home.
Saka nodded wide for the visitors but Gordon was soon at it again as another curled cross just evaded Joelinton at the far post.
It was another header that caused panic next, this time up the opposite end as William Saliba put Declan Rice’s far post corner back into the mixer, but Eddie Howe’s men survived as Lewis Hall’s back blocked Merino’s volley.
The game was on a knife-edge, but the tension was not only out on the pitch.
Mikel Arteta had already appeared to ask the fourth official to move Jason Tindall back into his technical area before having another jibe at Howe’s No.2 as the break approached.
Fabian Schar was the first to be booked, kicking the ball away after his team conceded a free-kick, and Joelinton geed-up the crowd after Newcastle’s defence cut-out another attack before the whistle.
It was an unusual position for Arteta and his Gunners as they plotted their comeback at the break, a situation that had not occurred for 29 Premier League matches.
They were first back out after no doubt being read the riot act, but that could have gone out the window as Gordon played Willock through within seconds, only Raya denied the star a goal against his old side.
It was time to throw the dice on the hour mark, Arteta pushing Thomas Partey from full-back into his favoured midfield while Oleksandr Zinchenko came off the bench and teen whizkid Ethan Nwaneri replaced Gabriel Martinelli.
However, it was Newcastle that almost sealed it moments later. But Raya dived to push away when Isak’s stinging strike.
Another double change followed, Ben White and Gabriel Jesus taking Timber and Leondro Trossard’s spots with twenty to go.
There were fears when Saka went down clutching his ankle as Arteta’s day threatened to go from bad to worse but the captain was able to stay on.
But despite everything they could try, Toon defended valiantly and in numbers, and the powder puff Gunners attack was unable to find a way through as Rice headed wide at the back post right at the death.
And even though having someone of Isak’s ilk in attack could have made all the difference, it is at the back where Arteta will be most concerned.
Arsenal only conceded 10 goals in their first 22 top-flight matches in 2024 – the same figure they have now shipped in their last six.
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What a cross from Gordon and what a header from Isak! 👏
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 2, 2024
Newcastle take the lead against Arsenal!@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK 📺 pic.twitter.com/GZ5FUdrusQ
Anthony Gordon put in a delightful cross for the Isak header[/caption]
The result could prove another crucial blow to the Gunners’ title hopes[/caption]
The Gunners have now gone three Prem games without a win[/caption]
Frustrations were clear to see for the visitors[/caption]
Mikel Merino was denied an equaliser when his effort was blocked[/caption]
The game was Newcastle’s Remembrance fixture[/caption]
