Newcastle 1 Arsenal 0
The pick of the games of the weekend saw unbeaten Arsenal head to St James’ Park to face the daunting task of Eddie Howe’s Newcastle in front of a stadium full of passionate Toon fans.
Mikel Arteta knew that this game would be the toughest test of their credentials so far this season and with both Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard missing, his side would have to show what they are made of on Tyneside.
It started off as a scrappy encounter with tackles flying in as both sides tried to assert themselves in the game but The Magpies were to create the first opening from a free kick deep in the Arsenal final third.
Trippier played it short to Gordon, Guimaraes then clipped a ball to the back post where Burn headed it back across goal, only to see Callum Wilson volley the ball over the crossbar. The flag was raised as Dan Burn was adjudged to have been offside as he headed it.
Credit: @NUFC
Then one of the big moments of the game as Kai Havertz went flying in with a challenge on Sean Longstaff. The referee adjudged it to be a yellow card and after a long review VAR saw nothing to overturn the official’s decision.
By the laws of the game it should have been red, the German had both feet off the ground and the challenge was reckless. In such a situation, the player is deemed to not be in control of his body and Havertz should have been given his marching orders.
In the melee that followed, three Newcastle players were booked along with the Arsenal player. It was another example of the inconsistency in referees in the Premier League as players have been sent off for far less.
Almiron then combined with Trippier out wide who clipped a ball into the box. Wilson could only get a glancing head on it but the ball dropped to Gordon on the back post unmarked. Instead of hitting it first time, he tried to control it and the ball ran harmlessly back to David Raya.
By this point of the game, tempers were frayed and as Newcastle players flew into the tackles, Guimaraes struck Jorginho on the back of the head with a forearm. Looking at the replay, the Brazilian was lucky not to be sent off also.
VAR took the time to check the incident but decided nothing was doing. It was yet another bizarre decision as the Newcastle man did not even receive a yellow card for the challenge. You could be forgiven for thinking Stevie Wonder was sat in the VAR room most of the time this season.
Credit: @NUFC
Martinelli then received the ball down the left, cut inside onto his right foot and had the visitor’s first shot at goal but Nick Pope collected the ball all too easily. You would expect a player of the Brazilian’s pedigree to do far better.
As the second half started, some good intricate passing by Arsenal saw Martinelli get to the byline. He clipped a ball into the box which Trippier half cleared and Rice met it with a header but the former West Ham man could not find the target.
Bukayo Saka was largely anonymous in this game as his predictable style of receive the ball, bring it onto his left foot and shoot was easily dealt with by Newcastle. The Arsenal winger may need to adapt his game if he wants to reach the heights many think he is capable of.
Joelinton continued to cause problems through the middle and as The Gunners failed to clear their lines, Murphy had a chance to shoot but seemed to be aiming for the corner flag. Willock was first to react, keeping it in play, before crossing back into the box.
All the Arsenal players were stood there with their hands up in the air, like a classroom teacher had asked an easy question, before Raya came flapping for the cross. Gabriel went down under the challenge of Joelinton before Gordon bundled it into the net.
St James’ Park erupted and Arteta’s side surrounded the referee complaining. VAR took an age to check three things, whether the ball went out, if Joelinton fouled Gabriel and finally if Anthony Gordon was offside.
This proved to be the talking point of the weekend. There was no definitive camera angle to check if the ball was out so as they could not prove this to be the case, the benefit is given to the onfield decision.
As for whether Gabriel was fouled, for a big centre back, any slight touch and he tends to go down like he has stepped on a piece of Lego with no shoes on. Not for the first time, the defender’s antics in looking for a foul, had cost his side a goal.
The only available angle of the ball going out showed a definite gap between it and the touchline. We as a species have put a man on the moon, but it seems many still do not understand the dimensions of a sphere.
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