David Raya: Made a number of well-packed box claims. But there wasn’t much he could have done to change the objective. 6.

After a fantastic showing against Liverpool, Thomas Partey struggled at right-back. The goal was also caused by his shoddy header. Moving to middle was better, but it was already too late. 5.

William Saliba: Joelinton and Willock made him perspire, and Isak gave him a hard time. 5. He’s not at his best one-on-one, but he’s decent with the ball.

Gabriel: Arsenal benefited greatly from the Brazilian’s fitness. On that particular day, he played strong defense and was powerless to stop the goal. 5.

Jurrien Timber: After Gordon’s wonderful ball, he was powerless to stop the goal. Aside from that, I had a pleasant time. was very on the ball and played good defense. 6.

Declan Rice: He didn’t deliver his set piece as well as he normally does. However, it did make a difference when promoted to a more senior position. lost a great late opportunity. 6.

Mikel Merino: He would have preferred a different return to St. James’ Park. Although it was a peripheral shot away from set pieces and was booked, it came close to scoring when it was cleared off the line. 5.

Bukayo Saka: The England winger had a calm day. a few times during the first half, but never really put enough effort into risky situations to cause issues. 6.

Gabriel Martinelli: The Brazilian had a horrible day at work. never appeared to be much of a goal threat and never truly beat his guy. 5.

Leandro Trossard: The Belgian had a very bad afternoon. His passing was completely off the mark, and he never got his dribble going. 5.

Kai Havertz: Didn’t have anything to offer that day. had little success against Schar or Burn. never really managed to get the ball down. Saka had one good cross, but not much else. 5.

PARTNERS –

Oleksandr Zinchenko: Failed to give Arsenal the security in possession he was brought on to achieve. Quite wasteful. 5.

Ethan Nwaneri: Buzzed around and increased Arsenal’s attacking impetus with the formation change. Failed to create much in terms of chances, though, with only one real look at goal. 6.

Ben White: Came on too late for rating. n/a.

Gabriel Jesus: Came on too late for rating. n/a.

Jorginho: Came on too late for rating. n/a.

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 NewcastleCredit: Getty

The Swedish striker gave David Raya no chanceCredit: Reuters

Talk of a £130 million deal seemed far off after contract negotiations were postponed and with just one goal in mind for his first seven outings this season.

But with his third strike in just six days left Arsenal looking more like title pretenders than contenders as they suffered a second successive road defeat for the first time since May 2022. What a difference a week makes.

Early on, Arteta’s strategies were exactly right; unlike Chelsea in midweek, he chose a direct approach to defeat the Toon press.

With Mikel Merino selected in the middle to help support Kai Havertz and the attackers instead of Jorginho, goalie David Raya lacked any short kicks.

The Magpies were meanwhile trying to figure out how to halt inverted full-back Jurrien Timber.

 

And it was the Dutchman Anthony Gordon seemed undecided whether to follow back with or not, who gave Bukayo Saka Arsenal’s first chance that was hammered into the side-netting.

Newcastle, however, answered perfectly by following the traditional path one and generated the opener on 12 minutes.

Tino Livramento from right-back deep into the opponent half launched a long ball forward, and his team-mates reacted quickly to grab it.

Sean Longstaff spotted man-of- the-match Gordon free down the right, slipping in the winger to strike a magnificent first-time cross for Isak to creep in between two defenders to head home.

Saka nodded wide for the guests, but Gordon was soon back at it once as another curved cross barely avoided Joelinton at the far post.

Eddie Howe’s men survived when Lewis Hall’s back stopped Merino’s volley, another header that set out fear followed, this time up the opposite end as William Saliba knocked Declan Rice’s far-post corner back into the mixer.

Though the game was on a knife-edge, the intensity existed off the field.

Before having another joke at Howe’s No2 as the break drew near, Mikel Arteta had already asked the fourth official to relocate Jason Tindall back into his technical area.

First booked was Fabian Schar, who kicked the ball away after his team gave up a free-kick, Joelinton geed-up the fans following Newcastle’s defensive cut-off of another attack before the whistle.

For 29 Premier League games, Arteta and his Gunners had never found themselves in this peculiar position as they planned their comeback at the interval.

After clearly reading the riot act, they were first back out, but that might have been lost when Gordon sent Willock over in a matter of seconds only Raya prevented the star a goal against his old side.

Time to toss the dice on the hour mark; Arteta drove Thomas Partey from full-back into his preferred midfield while Oleksandr Zinchenko emerged from the bench and teenage whizkid Ethan Nwaneri replaced Gabriel Martinelli.

Still, Newcastle nearly sealed it shortly later. But Raya dove to deflect Isak’s devastating blow.

Then Ben White and Gabriel Jesus took Timber and Leandro Trossard’s seats with twenty to go, another double change.

Saka descended gripping his ankle, terrified as Arteta’s day seemed to turn from bad to worse but the skipper managed to stay on.

Toon defended heroically and in numbers, though, and the powder puff Gunners’ attack was unable to find a path through as Rice headed agonisingly wide at the back post right at the last.

And although having someone of Isak’s ilk in attack could have made all the difference, Arteta will be most worried at the back.

Arsenal only let ten goals in their first 22 top-flight games in 2024—the same total they have lately sent in their last six.

8Anthony Gordon put in a delightful cross for the Isak headerCredit: AFP

8The result could prove another crucial blow to the Gunners’ title hopesCredit: Getty

8The Gunners have now gone three Prem games without a winCredit: Alamy

8Frustrations were clear to see for the visitorsCredit: Rex

8Mikel Merino was denied an equaliser when his effort was blockedCredit: Getty

8The game was Newcastle’s Remembrance fixtureCredit: AFP