Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal: Anthony Gordon strikes for Magpies to end Gunners’ unbeaten Premier League run
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Updated 04/11/2023 at 21:33 GMT
Arsenal have lost in the Premier League for the first time this season after going down 1-0 to Newcastle at St James' Park. A tight game was settled in the second half when Anthony Gordon poked home from close range but there was more than a hint of controversy about the goal after lengthy VAR check failed to conclude that the ball had initially gone out of play nor whether the player was onside.
Anthony Gordon of Newcastle United celebrates
Image credit: Getty Images
Anthony Gordon struck the winner as Newcastle secured a 1-0 victory that ended Arsenal’s unbeaten start to the Premier League season and allowed the Magpies to close the gap to the top four.
A fast-paced, feisty first half was devoid of any real quality in the final third with a needless lunge from Kai Havertz the most notable moment. The German avoided a red card but the melee that ensued led to four players being booked in total, while Bruno Guimaraes was also fortunate to escape punishment for leaving an arm on the side of Jorginho’s head.
Emotions continued to run high following the break, but the deadlock was finally broken on 64 minutes when Gordon tapped in from point-blank range after David Raya flapped at substitute Joe Willock’s left-wing cross. The goal was highly controversial, with VAR looking at three possible infringements – whether the ball went out of play, a potential push on Gabriel by Joeltinton, and offside – before deciding to allow the goal after a four-minute investigation.
Arsenal probed for a late equaliser but never looked likely as Newcastle made it seven top-flight matches unbeaten. The result sees Arsenal remain in third spot, three points off the summit with near rivals Liverpool and Tottenham still to play. Newcastle are sixth, but are now just four points behind the Gunners.
Newcastle will now switch focus to a Champions League trip to Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday prior to visiting Bournemouth on Saturday.
Arsenal are also in action in Europe’s premier competition at home to Sevilla on Wednesday before entertaining Burnley on Saturday.
Talking point - Fireworks for Newcastle but a damp squib for Arsenal.
It was more about the tough decisions than the football on a fiery night at St James’ Park.
Havertz’s first-half lunge may have been seen as red card by many with tempers boiling over between both players in the immediate aftermath. VAR checked that and Guimaraes’ needless forearm into Jorginho’s face, but did not intervene to change the referee’s mind.
Even the goal was the subject of great deliberation as VAR first checked to see if the ball had gone out of play before Willock retrieved to cross. They then checked for a foul on Gabriel by Joelinton and asked for more time to run the rule over a possible offside. The triple check took four minutes and six seconds but eventually the goal stood as it was deemed there was no conclusive evidence to chalk it off.
For Arsenal, it capped a miserable week as they followed up a Carabao Cup loss at West Ham with a first PL defeat of the campaign. In contrast, Newcastle go from strength-to-strength, maintaining an unbeaten streak and following up on an impressive cup win at Old Trafford in midweek, despite having injury and off-the-field issues to contend with.
Player of the match - Jamaal Lascelles (Newcastle United)
The Magpies skipper was imperious at the back, almost acting as a magnet to the ball as he repelled everything Arsenal threw into the home side’s box.
Player Ratings
Newcastle: Pope 7, Trippier 8, Schar 8, Lascelles 9, Burn 7, Longstaff 7, Joelinton 8, Guimaraes 7, Gordon 8, Almiron 7, Wilson 6. Subs: Livramento 7, Murphy 6, Willock 7, Ritchie 6.
Arsenal: Raya 6, White 7, Saliba 7, Gabriel 7, Tomiyasu 7, Rice 7, Jorginho 6, Havertz 5, Saka 6, Martinelli 6, Nketiah 6. Subs: Zinchenko 6, Trossard 6, Vieira 6.
Match Highlights
54’ – NEWCASTLE CHANCE! Almiron leads a counter-attack through the middle from Wilson’s lay-off. He waits for the overlap from Gordon who takes aim from the left side of the area, but the winger scuffs his effort and Arsenal survive.
64’ – GOAL! Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal(Gordon): Gordon sweeps home from close range after Raya missed Willock's cross from the left and Joelinton was denied by Gabriel.
Key Stats
- Gordon has scored five goals in his last 11 games in the Premier League, as many goals as he scored in his previous 51 appearances.
- Newcastle have won four consecutive Premier League games at St James' Park without conceding a single goal for the first time since April 2012.
- Arsenal have failed to score in all competitions for the first time this season (17th game). Newcastle were also the first team to stop the Gunners from scoring in the Premier League last term (0-0 in January).
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