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.
Following their first league road loss in 2024 at Bournemouth, the Gunners experienced another setback at St. James’ Park and may end the weekend eight points behind leaders Manchester City.
Isak’s superb cross past David Raya put Mikel Arteta’s team behind for the majority of the match, and they were flat against their physically strong and defensively formidable opponents the entire time.
Although Declan Rice’s deflected attempt went narrowly wide and Lewis Hall blocked Mikel Merino’s shot on the line, Arsenal hardly ever put Nick Pope to the test.
Raya had to make saves against Joe Willock and Isak to keep Newcastle from extending their lead, and then another Hall block stopped Leandro Trossard’s volley.
After his strong performance at Preston in the middle of the week, Ethan Nwaneri was brought off the bench, but the 17-year-old was unable to change the outcome. Actually, just like at Bournemouth, Arsenal was begging for Martin Odegaard, their injured captain, to be more creative.
In the final seconds, substitute captain Bukayo Saka finally created a chance when his cross found Rice at the far post, but the midfielder’s header missed the mark, and Arsenal’s hopes of returning to north London with a point vanished.
“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.
Published by Ejoh Caleb
