Newcastle 1 Arsenal 0: Gunners dealt major Premier League title blow as Gordon’s magical cross sets up early Isak winner

Newcastle 1 Arsenal 0: Gunners dealt major Premier League title blow as Gordon’s magical cross sets up early Isak winner

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.

soccer players on a field with a sign that says golden era of sports
Getty

Alexander Isak headed in a superb opener for Newcastle[/caption]

a soccer player with the number 14 on his shorts
Reuters

The Swedish striker gave David Raya no chance[/caption]

After contract talks were put on hold and with just one goal in his opening seven appearances this season, talk of a £130million transfer appeared to be way off.

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

Arteta’s tactics were spot on early on, opting for a direct approach in order to beat the Toon press, unlike Chelsea in midweek.

There were no short kicks from goalie David Raya, with 6ft 2in Mikel Merino preferred in the middle to help support Kai Havertz and the attackers rather than Jorginho.

Meanwhile, the Magpies were struggling to work out how to stop inverted full-back Jurrien Timber.

And it was the Dutchman, who Anthony Gordon seemed unsure whether to track back with or not, who provided Bukayo Saka with Arsenal’s first chance that was smashed into the side-netting.

But Newcastle had the perfect response by going classic route one themselves and it produced the opener on 12 minutes.

The move started with a long ball forward from Tino Livramento from right-back deep into the opposition half and his team-mates reacted fast to win it.

FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS

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

Saka nodded wide for the visitors but Gordon was soon at it again as another curled cross just evaded Joelinton at the far post.

It was another header that caused panic next, this time up the opposite end as William Saliba put Declan Rice’s far-post corner back into the mixer, but Eddie Howe’s men survived as Lewis Hall’s back blocked Merino’s volley.

The game was on a knife-edge, but the tension was not only out on the pitch.

Mikel Arteta had already appeared to ask the fourth official to move Jason Tindall back into his technical area before having another jibe at Howe’s No2 as the break approached.

Fabian Schar was the first to be booked, kicking the ball away after his team conceded a free-kick, and Joelinton geed-up the crowd after Newcastle’s defence cut out another attack before the whistle.

It was an unusual position for Arteta and his Gunners as they plotted their comeback at the break, a situation that had not occurred for 29 Premier League matches.

They were first back out after no doubt being read the riot act, but that could have gone out the window as Gordon played Willock through within seconds, only Raya denied the star a goal against his old side.

a poster showing newcastle v arsenal match stats

a soccer player with the number 39 on his jersey

Match Stats

It was time to throw the dice on the hour mark, Arteta pushing Thomas Partey from full-back into his favoured midfield while Oleksandr Zinchenko came off the bench and teen whizkid Ethan Nwaneri replaced Gabriel Martinelli.

However, it was Newcastle that almost sealed it moments later. But Raya dived to push away Isak’s stinging strike.

Another double change followed, Ben White and Gabriel Jesus taking Timber and Leandro Trossard’s spots with twenty to go.

There were fears when Saka went down clutching his ankle as Arteta’s day threatened to go from bad to worse but the captain was able to stay on.

But despite everything they could try, Toon defended valiantly and in numbers, and the powder puff Gunners attack was unable to find a way through as Rice headed agonisingly wide at the back post right at the death.

And even though having someone of Isak’s ilk in attack could have made all the difference, it is at the back where Arteta will be most concerned.

Arsenal only conceded ten goals in their first 22 top-flight matches in 2024 – the same figure they have now shipped in their last six.

a soccer player with the number 10 on his jersey
AFP

Anthony Gordon put in a delightful cross for the Isak header[/caption]

a man in a black jacket stands on a soccer field
Getty

The result could prove another crucial blow to the Gunners’ title hopes[/caption]

digital marketing
a soccer player wearing a red emirates fly better jersey
Alamy

The Gunners have now gone three Prem games without a win[/caption]

a soccer player with the number 5 on his jersey
Rex

Frustrations were clear to see for the visitors[/caption]

a soccer player wearing a fly emirates jersey kicks the ball
Getty

Mikel Merino was denied an equaliser when his effort was blocked[/caption]

a soccer stadium with a sign that says newcastle united
AFP

The game was Newcastle’s Remembrance fixture[/caption]

back link building services=