Arsenal lost after another defeat to Newcastle

While waiting for the rest of the season to give us a better idea of ​​whether Guardiola will win for the 7th time in 8 Premier League seasons or whether Arne Slott will achieve the title feat in his first year at Liverpool, Arsenal, his team, orientated by sight. After losing to Bournemouth (2-0) two weeks ago, their first of the season, and then drawing with Liverpool, who led twice last weekend (2-2), the Gunners beat Newcastle this Saturday (1 –0). . Not very encouraging, given that the team is achieving its first home success in the championship in two months…

However, the first minutes of the match were encouraging, but not a harbinger of success: there was rhythm, life… but there were no goals, except for Newcastle. Alexander Isak reminded Mikel Arteta from the 12th minute of the game that he is perhaps the missing link in his team, namely that number 9 who can decide the outcome of the match. After Gordon’s cross, Gabriel forgot about the Swede and delivered a crushing header, leaving Raya helpless (1-0).

1 point for the last three days

Forced to react, Arsenal intensified their attacks on Pope’s goal, first with Saka’s header wide of goal (18th), a free-kick wasted by Rice on the edge of the area (24th), but most of all with this shot without warning . from Merino, miraculously saved by Sher on his line (27th place). The Gunners constantly fell victim to their clumsiness in the last gesture, and sometimes in the first, as in this dangerous and completely failed restart by Gabriel (37th). From the very start of the second half their vigilance was tested. Gordon went down and cut through the defense like butter, but fortunately Raya was keeping an eye on the action ahead of Willock (46th). Arsenal had the ball, but the Magpies had the best ideas. Faced with his attackers’ failure to take responsibility, Declan Rice tried to play vigilante but his shot clipped Pope’s post.

Isak seemed an insoluble problem, and Gabriel, like Saliba, no longer knew what to do to protect him from danger. The former Dortmund player was even close to scoring a double, but Raya did his best (63rd place). Despite a number of bright moments for Arsenal, it would be an exaggeration to say that the Gunners subsequently dominated the match. They mostly occupied half of the opponent’s field, unable to overcome the challenge posed by Newcastle. The only shot on target after 80 minutes of play reflected well the lack of ammunition and ingenuity. And Rice’s last big opportunity, a rare flash from Saka (89th), also missed the mark. With this result, Arsenal (18 points) risk seeing the rise of Manchester City (23 points) and Liverpool (22 points), especially since their pursuers could also deceive them this weekend. Four days before a difficult trip to Inter Milan in C1, this hiccup does not inspire optimism. Newcastle increased their capital points and rose to 8th place.