Newcastle beat Arsenal 1-0 at St James’ Park on Saturday as Mikel Arteta’s side saw their title hopes take another hit.
Arsenal’s poor recent form continues as they’ve lost back-to-back away games in the Premier League and have just one point from their last three games. They remain on 18 points and Manchester City and Liverpool have the chance to pull further away this weekend.
With the win Newcastle taste victory for the first time in six matches and have 15 points for the season, with Eddie Howe’s side good value for the victory as they dug deep and worked extremely hard defensively to stop Arsenal creating big chances.
Odegaard’s absence will probably cost Arsenal the title
In the seven Premier League games Martin Odegaard has missed, Arsenal have lost two, drawn two and won three. That is a huge drop-off from their form when the Arsenal skipper was fit and orchestrating things over the last few seasons. Other injuries have played their part in Arsenal’s recent collapse too, but Odegaard’s importance was perhaps underestimated when he went down with an ankle injury for Norway during the September international break. It is the first time Arsenal have been without Odegaard for an extended period of time in the last few years and their fluidity is missing. Their drive to get the ball forward quickly from defense to attack is gone. Via Opta, in their five PL away games this season Arsenal have had just 37 shots (7.4 per game) with only Brentford (7.5 per game) managing fewer shots on the road this season. Odegaard has been missing for four of those five away games.
Their usually lethal and rhythmic right side has looked lackluster. Saka has just come back from injury himself, White has been out injured and is lacking in confidence and with Odegaard, the man who knits that side of the pitch together, out leaves Arsenal looking clunky. It’s easy to single out your captain being out as the main problem when a team is struggling but Arsenal have navigated other injuries across the pitch pretty well. Players have stepped up defensively and in attack but it’s Odegaard’s presence in midfield to dictate the tempo of a game, always wanting the ball and relentlessly looking forward with probing passes that has been missed most. Odegaard perhaps wasn’t seen as Arsenal’s best and most important player before this injury with Saka, Rice or Saliba usually getting that title. There’s now no doubt who makes Arsenal tick best and Odegaard’s absence is why Arsenal are languishing so far behind Man City. As he prepares to return to action in the coming weeks, can they make up this ground? Maybe. But if Odegaard goes down again with another injury it will be curtains for the Gunners’ title hopes this season.
Newcastle vs Arsenal player ratings - Via FotMob.com
What’s next?
Newcastle head to Nottingham Forest on Sunday, Nov. 10. Arsenal head to Chelsea on the same day for a massive London derby.
How to watch Newcastle vs Arsenal live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 8:30am ET Saturday (November 2)
Venue: St James’ Park — Newcastle
TV Channel: USA Network
Streaming: Watch online via NBC.com
Newcastle vs Arsenal final score: 1-0
Isak 12’
Newcastle vs Arsenal live updates! - By Joe Prince-Wright
Full time: Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal
More dropped points for Arsenal in the title race and they simply didn’t turn up at Newcastle. A few half chances from crosses was as good as it got for the Gunners, as Isak’s first half header was the difference between the two teams.
Huge chance in the 93rd minute!
Bukayo Saka with a brilliant cross to the back post and Declan Rice is there, but he is perhaps there a little early and he heads a weak effort wide of the post. Arsenal should be level late on.
Gordon blocks Jesus at the back post
Huge roar from the home fans as Anthony Gordon does really well to block Gabriel Jesus from getting a proper effort at goal at the back post. Excellent defensive work and that is Gordon’s last act as he’s subbed off. What a cross for Isak’s goal he put in and that moment of quality looks like being the difference in this game.
Newcastle holding firm as Arsenal struggle to create
They are huffing and puffing out wide but not much is happening. Saka and Havertz are getting increasingly frustrated but Arsenal keep probing. The home fans are creating quite a noise as we enter the final 10 minutes. They’re trying to drag their team over the line.
So close for Arsenal as Rice’s shot deflects wide!
Declan Rice dances into the box and his low effort takes a deflection and bobbles just wide of the far post. That came moments after Isak’s dipping shot was pushed away by Raya.
Nwaneri and Zinchenko are on for Martinelli and Merino
Timber has switched to right back with Zinchenko at left back. Partey has moved into midfield to replace Merino, with Nwaneri playing on the inside left. Nwaneri wins a free kick right away as Willock is booked for a poor, late challenge on the teenager.
Willock fires over after a good run on the break
Joe Willock is having a really good game and he runs at Saliba before beating him on the outside but his shot is always rising and flies over the bar. A glimpse of how dangerous Newcastle can be on the counter as we enter the final 30 minutes and Arsenal will surely take more risks to get level.
Arsenal trying to get back in this but aren’t having much luck
Bukayo Saka is doing his best to get Arsenal going in this second half but the Gunners just don’t have a zip about them today. Mikel Arteta must be thinking about some changes soon. This is far too easy for Newcastle to just shuffle over as a unit and stop Arsenal from getting in-behind them.
Half time: Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal
Well, that was pretty comfortable for Newcastle, wasn’t it? That early Isak goal set the tone for the Magpies as they caused problems from crosses when they could, then sat back and contained Arsenal well. Aside from Merino having a shot cleared off the line, Arsenal have been lackluster in attack. Surely Arteta will bring on Jesus, Nwaneri and Sterling soon.
Merino’s shot cleared off the line
So close to an equalize for Arsenal! Saliba keeps the corner to the back post alive as Pope is caught wandering, and Merino’s shot is on target but cleared off the line. Excellent last-ditch defending from Newcastle.
Isak heads home Gordon’s great cross!
What a cross from Gordon and Isak heads home. Newcastle’s fans go wild. That is exactly what they, and this game, needed. An early goal will wake up Arsenal.
Newcastle lineup
Pope; Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Willock; Gordon, Isak, Joelinton
Arsenal lineup
Raya; Partey, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Saka, Merino, Rice, Martinelli; Havertz, Trossard
Newcastle team news, focus
The Magpies have a very good 14 or so players in their squad but when injuries start to pile up they look stretched. Howe hasn’t rotated as much as he should have and the likes of Willock and Kelly may get a start. Isak, Gordon and Barnes have the x-factor but will they be used from the start as a trio? It hasn’t happened enough this season.
OUT: Sven Botman (knee), Jamaal Lascelles (knee), Kieran Trippier (hamstring), Callum Wilson (back), Jacob Murphy (thigh)
Arsenal team news, focus
Arteta has done his best to rotate and keep things fresh but injuries have kept pilling up. Impressive youngster Ethan Nwaneri scored a beauty in the midweek win at Preston in the League Cup and he’s pushing for a start, while Zinchenko also got some minutes under his belt as Arsenal’s squad players are stepping up. Having Bukayo Saka back has been huge and with Odegaard returning soon, Arsenal will have more of a creative and settled feel to them. Until then, it’s all on Saka, Havertz, Martinelli and Jesus to provide that spark in the final third.
OUT: Riccardo Calafiori (knock), Kieran Tierney (thigh), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee), Martin Odegaard (ankle)
Newcastle vs Arsenal prediction
This is always a tricky game for any team, let alone an Arsenal side struggling with fitness and freshness. But Newcastle aren’t in tremendous form and Arsenal know they have to keep winning and hope Man City slip up to close the gap at the top. It will be close but Arsenal’s extra attacking options will edge them to victory. Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal.
Newcastle vs Arsenal preview
Eddie Howe’s Newcastle are without a win in five in the Premier League and lost 2-1 at Chelsea last weekend. Given some key injuries at the back, defensive issues are cropping up consistently for Newcastle. They’re also not finishing chances in attack and Howe is struggling to find the right combinations. But just as it seemed things were unraveling for Howe, Newcastle beat Chelsea in midweek to reach the League Cup quarterfinals and face Brentford at home for a spot in the semifinals. The Magpies’ hopes of a trophy and a top six finish are far from over. They need the likes of Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes to get going again and Newcastle usually have Arsenal’s number at St James’ Park.
Arsenal are looking for their first win in three after their loss at Bournemouth was followed by a draw at home with Liverpool. Given their injury issues Mikel Arteta will be totally fine with their start to the season but they’re already five points off Premier League leaders Manchester City. Arteta knows they need to minimize further slip ups and he needs Martin Odegaard back soon as Arsenal’s attacking fluidity has diminished significantly since their Norwegian skipper has been out. Bukayo Saka is back fit and was magnificent in the draw against Liverpool and the Gunners need their young talisman to deliver the goods and thrive in the cauldron of St James’ this weekend.
