Arsenal drop more points at Newcastle – Five things we learned from Newcastle United 1-0 Arsenal | OneFootball

A big win for Eddie Howe and his Newcastle side but a disaster of sorts for Mikel Arteta as his Arsenal side continue their poor run of results.

THE ISAK FACTOR

Arsenal have been criticised for playing without a recognised goalscorer over the past few seasons. Manager Mijkel Arteta has successfully waved away thye argument by pointing tio their collective success in front of goal – they hit the back of the net more times last season  than their entire 137-year history, but what they would give for a forward like Newcastle’s Alexander Isak. The Super Swede has long been linked with a move to Arsenal and he showed just what they are missing with a lethal ??trh minute header here. It was an inch perfect cross from ?? but Arteta has that sort of supply chanin too and his side might have made more of their initial dominance had they played with such a dynamic focal point of their forward line.

GORDON IS NOT A MORON*

Former Everton man Anthony Gordon has arguably been Newcastle’s most influential player this season. He was also the heart of all things good about the Geordies in this game. His first-time cross to record an assist for Isak’s opener was as good as it gets. His tireless running set the standard for Eddie Howe’s side too. New England manager Thomas Tuchel will have watched with interest. *Google ‘Jilted John’ if you don’t know the cultural reference in the headline.

IS ODEGAARD THE MISSING LINK?

There is something not quite right about Arsenal this season. They are off the pace points wise compared to this time last season and still have not found the attacking fluency that has been a feature of their title challenges of the last two years. Could it all be down to the prolonged absence of injured caoptain martin Odegaard? This tighght tussle was made for the Norwegian midfielder, who ahs not featured since sustaining an ankle injury in the last international break. Theer is talk he could make a return in their midweek Champions League tie against Inter Milan. If so, the match can not coem soon enough for Arteta and hsi squad.

1230 IS NOT FOR FANS

There are few grounds and crowds that generate such a thrilling pre-match atmosphere as Newcastle United’s St James’s Park, but not when a match kicks off at 1230. The stadium was packed but the mood was relativekly flat for what was being billed as one of the grudge matches of the season. Arsenal fans, sat so high up it is a wonder if they could see the pitch clearly, had to set off from London while it was still dark. The loyal local Newcastle fans also seemed like it was a bit early for them when referee John Brooks came out with the two line-ups for the pre-match formalities. It might make for a great start time for the global television audience, but not for the fans in a fixture between two teams at opposite ends of the country. Is was great at the end when Newcastkle were winning and everyone was awake, but does the early Aaturday fixture need a rethink?

ONE OF OUR OWN?

The Arsenal fans did their best to get in the ear of Arteta with regular chats of ‘Ethan Nwaneri, he’s one of our own.’ Many had been calling for their homegrown starket to start the match after his wonder goal at OPreston in midweek. His time will surely come and he is big enough and good enough to play in the Premier League. Arteta and the Arsenal staff, however, are mindful of their duty of care to a 17-year-old bnoy who does not becoem an adult until March 2025. The England under-19 international finally came on with half an hour to go as Arsenal tried to rescue a lost cause and struggled to make an impact until he flashed a shot wide in time added on at the end.