3 Positives and 3 Negatives to take from Newcastle 1 Arsenal 2 | OneFootball

It ended Newcastle 1 Arsenal 2.

Ahead of each game we ask one of our writers to come up with three positives and three negatives following the match.

An interesting game at St James’ Park…

Plenty to talk about after this one.

On this occasion it is David Punton:

POSITIVES

We came close

Up against one of the best teams in the country we came within a whisker of taking a point.

Arsenal were always going to be a very tough opponent. Last season’s runners up, no less.

We battled hard. They were just better than us, but their win came deep in added time, and was fortunate really (for them), in an era when anything between eight and fourteen minutes get added on.

New boys look good

It was a shame Malick Thiaw ended up on the losing side. He didn’t deserve to.

The German defender had another good game. He looks the part and he’s nailing down a starting spot.

Hopefully his form bodes well and we will see better days soon for the whole team.

His fellow German, Nick Woltemade, managed to bag himself another goal. His height is a real weapon we can exploit.

Every cloud

With the Gunners nabbing off with all three points it meant we were at least spared another national whinging festival from their twisty manager Mikel Arteta.

Nobody moans like Arteta. He’s turned it into an art form. He must be the most unlikeable affable Spaniard on the planet.

I can’t stand Arsenal and he embodies it, but we were saved the salty tears, because you can bet your bottom dollar he’d have had plenty to say about their first half penalty shout if they’d only left Tyneside with a point.

Knee bother

The sight of Tino Livramento being stretchered off was not good at all.

Was that a key moment that helped Arsenal? Perhaps.

Certainly Tino is a massive player for us and we now face losing him for an extended period of time.

While we don’t know the extent of the injury (there are some claims it’s not as bad as first feared) we will still be without him for a few months you’d imagine.

The injury curse is creeping back in, hot on the heels of having already lost Yoane Wissa until after the next international break, also with a knock to his knee.

Cartel cruelty

It was a sickening way to lose.

Hot on the heels of Liverpool scoring at SJP in 90+10, here we have Arsenal in 90+6.

The VAR was nowhere yet again.

We all feel were denied a great penalty shout and you can add that one to the big moment that we didn’t get down at Bournemouth.

Does the technology only work for cartel teams?

Set-pieces and subs

Managers have big calls to make with their subs.

I am sure everyone has their own opinion on the changes Eddie Howe made on Sunday.

I was left questioning the changes. They seemed to invite Arsenal on to us more.

I don’t see how bringing on those three players ever looked like the right thing to do. Just swap the striker, or Murphy.

The set-pieces are a concern too.

We’ve conceded from them and up the other end we’ve failed miserably with some of our own dead balls.

Newcastle 1 Arsenal 2 – Sunday 28 September 2025 4.30pm

(Stats via BBC Sport)

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Woltemade 34

Arsenal:

Merino 84, Gabriel 90+6

Possession was Newcastle 36% Arsenal 64%

Total shots were Newcastle 8 Arsenal 20

Shots on target were Newcastle 3 Arsenal 7

Corners were Newcastle 7 Arsenal 12

Touches in the box Newcastle 17 Arsenal 43

Newcastle team v Arsenal:

Pope, Livramento (Lascelles 77), Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Bruno, Joelinton (Barnes 94), Tonali, Gordon (Trippier 67), Woltemade (Osula 67), Murphy (Elanga 66)

Subs:

Ramsdale, Krafth, Willock, Miley

(Mikel Arteta manipulation of the media is now laid bare – Quite incredible – Read HERE)

(Newcastle 1 Arsenal 2 – Match ratings and comments on all Newcastle United players – Read HERE)

(Newcastle 1 Arsenal 2 – Instant Newcastle United fan/writer reaction – Read HERE)

Newcastle United fixtures (All of the Champions League matches will also be available to watch on TV in the UK):

Wednesday 1st October: Union SG vs Newcastle United (5.45pm)

Sunday 5 October– Newcastle v Forest (2pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 18 October – Brighton v Newcastle (3pm)

Tuesday 21st October: Newcastle United vs Benfica (8pm)

Saturday 25 October – Newcastle v Fulham (3pm)