Arsenal’s title bid takes another blow as Alexander Isak’s header condemns Mikel Arteta’s listless side to a 1-0 defeat at St James’ Park – with Declan Rice missing huge chance at the death
He has all but cost them this season’s Premier League, so maybe next year he’ll be the man to win it for them. Alexander Isak would be Arsenal’s dream signing, and this is why, because here the Newcastle matchwinner was the stuff of nightmares.
On the afternoon St James’ Park marked Remembrance Day, Mikel Arteta was left to reflect on a title challenge that has not got beyond the first weekend in November.
You cannot give two excellent rivals a head-start and, regardless of however many points by which they trail Manchester City and Liverpool, Arsenal simply do not look like contenders.
They kept 11 men on the pitch this time but perhaps they could have done with the spirit induced by 10, because they went down without a fight. They did not have a shot on target and were only really a threat from set-pieces.
They have won much praise for their deadball efficiency this season, but has that masked shortcomings elsewhere?
Alexander Isak’s first-half header condemned Arsenal to a costly defeat at Newcastle
Isak met Anthony Gordon’s cross and nodded beyond David Raya after just 12 minutes
The setback leaves the Gunners adrift of Manchester City and Liverpool in the title race
It looked like it here, on a day when Eddie Howe’s hosts bettered them for aggression, desire and quality. Newcastle’s season was resuscitated by a midweek Carabao Cup victory over Chelsea and this win, a first in six in the Premier League, moves them to within three points of Arsenal.
The only goal, on 12 minutes, was a throwback, a right-winger crossing with his right foot and a centre-forward flashing home with a header. How retro.
How simple. If only, and the technique of Anthony Gordon’s whipped delivery and Isak’s whiplash conversion were world class. There is a reason such goals are rare. It evoked memories of the Keith Gillespie-Tino Asprilla combo that downed Barcelona in 1997.
But the more recent memory stirred by Newcastle’s performance was of two seasons ago, the campaign that took them into the Champions League.
Then, they were nasty and clinical – and never more so than against Arsenal. Howe is as mild mannered as you’ll get for a Premier League manager, but he and his staff do not like Arteta and his backroom.
Howe said on Friday his team would do ‘whatever it takes’ to win. And so this was the perfect occasion for Newcastle to rediscover the dark arts that have so irked Arteta and his team in recent years. It was illuminating for the Magpies, who outsmarted Arsenal both inside and outside the rules.
Arsenal have now suffered two defeats from their last three Premier League games
Declan Rice headed the visitors’ best chance of the game just wide in stoppage time
There was a passage in the first half when Gordon chased after Leandro Trossard as Arsenal broke down the left. Such was the pressure that the Arsenal winger ran the ball straight out of play, as if spooked by his pursuer. Gordon smiled and Howe stepped up to the touchline to congratulate him.
Arsenal had two big chances. The first, just before the half hour, saw Mikel Merino’s shot blocked by Lewis Hall after a scramble from a corner. They had to wait until the third minute of injury-time for another, and Declan Rice’s weak header wide from six yards just about captured the ineptitude of their afternoon.
The full-time whistle sounded soon after and, after briefly applauding the away fans, Arteta disappeared down the tunnel in double-quick time. With him, you feel, went Arsenal’s title challenge.
