Newcastle United dealt a serious blow to Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes on Saturday, securing a 1-0 win that gives Manchester City the opportunity to pull eight points ahead at the top of the league.
Alexander Isak’s early header, assisted by Anthony Gordon’s pinpoint cross, secured all three points for the Magpies at St. James’ Park.
Arsenal struggled to find their rhythm, managing just one shot on target despite dominating possession. The loss leaves Mikel Arteta’s side with only one point from their last three games, a worrying trend for a team that has been pushing Manchester City hard in recent seasons. Should City beat Bournemouth later today, they will extend their lead to eight points, while Liverpool, just a point behind City, are also close behind and face Brighton at Anfield.
Despite an energetic start, Arsenal lost momentum as Newcastle quickly took control. Isak found space between Gabriel and William Saliba, perfectly heading in Gordon’s cross in the 12th minute. Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka had an opportunity to level, but his header missed its mark in the 18th minute.
Arsenal failed to keep up with Newcastle’s intensity throughout the match. Arteta resisted making substitutions at halftime, but Newcastle came close to extending their lead right after the break with Joe Willock’s attempt, saved by David Raya. Later, Arteta brought on 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri and Oleksandr Zinchenko, but they struggled to make an impact. In the final minutes, Declan Rice headed just wide in a close chance that could have salvaged a point for the Gunners.
Still missing captain Martin Odegaard, Arsenal now faces challenging fixtures against Inter Milan in the Champions League and Chelsea in the Premier League. Meanwhile, Newcastle’s victory lifted them to eighth in the table, ending their five-game winless streak and providing a much-needed boost.
