Arsenal ‘s unbeaten start to the season came to an end at Newcastle as Anthony Gordon came up with a winner which saw VAR ask for extra time.
Tottenham are now the only Premier League outfit who haven’t tasted defeat and they can open up a four point gap over the Gunners on Monday night. Last term Arsenal did a job on Newcastle at St James’ Park. However, this time round Eddie Howe’s side exacted revenge.
The game was lacking goal mouth action, especially in the first-half, with Gordon opening the scoring just after the hour. Arsenal bemoaned the goal as VAR set about deliberating over it. They checked a possible ball out of play, a possible foul and a possible offside before it was eventually given.
Arsenal struggled to create much in response with skipper and playmaker Martin Odegaard absent. Gabriel Jesus is also unavailable and the Gunners lacked a cutting-edge as Newcastle’s impressive defence stood firm.
Gordon was Newcastle’s big money signing last January but has come alive after a sensational summer with England at the U21 Euros. Increasingly the former Everton star is becoming the man who steps up for the Magpies and it proved to be the case once more.
The winger opened the scoring after a hefty VAR check midway through the second-half. He’s already enjoyed big moments against the likes of Liverpool this term and in the midweek win in Manchester, where he showed a versatility by playing through the middle. On Saturday evening he showed his predatory instinct as he was on hand to tap home and enjoy another moment in the spotlight.
The Spaniard, David Raya, is beginning to cause more problems than he solves. Arteta looks set to – stubbornly or admirable depending on your allegiance – stick by Raya, whom he signed in the summer and quickly bought in to replace the reliable Aaron Ramsdale.
He’s made several notable errors and his part in Newcastle’s opener will magnified. Raya flapped at cross, with his position perhaps not the greatest, which allowed Joelinton to get up and challenge for a header, which allowed Gordon to tap home. The farcical VAR situation that followed saved him in the moment, but upon review this will be another goal the Arsenal No 1 should’ve done far better with. The noise is certainly not going away.
If Newcastle had one major work on this season, it was their results again the Premier League’s top sides. Last term there were optimistic signs. But this time round they’ve struggled to put down a marker against one of the elite. Since hammering Aston Villa on the opening day they’ve been beaten by 10-man Liverpool, City and were also outclassed at Brighton.
Their clash against Arsenal, who were unbeaten, presented them with a chance to show that the term ‘the big six’ needs amending. They did exactly that in what was an attritional affair with their slow start to the campaign becoming a distant memory after a fifth win in seven league games.