Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side were beaten 1-0 by Newcastle United at St James’ Park in the early kick off on Saturday.
It was another brilliant performance from Eddie Howe’s team who were coming into this game after beating Chelsea 2-0 in the Carabao Cup in their previous match.
The Magpies have had a tough season so far but the last two matches have shown that they can turn it around and climb up the Premier League standings in the next few weeks.
Alexander Isak’s first half goal, brilliantly assisted by Anthony Gordon, was the difference between both the sides.
The Gunners failed to make the most of their possession and Newcastle United kept them quiet with their composed defensive performance.
Arteta was particularly impressed with one Newcastle United player, whose physical aspect earned the praise of the Spaniard.
Speaking after the match, Arteta was complimentary of Newcastle United’s Joelinton.
“They are all big and very physical, Joelinton especially he was the one he [Thomas Partey] had to deal with him, especially playing directly on his side,” he said, as quoted by the official Arsenal website.
“I love my players and I wouldn’t change them for anyone else.”
It was another poor result for the Gunners who have faced defeat against Bournemouth and played a draw against Liverpool in their last few matches.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is going through a difficult phase
The defeat at St James’ Park has left the Gunner seven points behind league leaders Liverpool.
It was the perfect weekend for Arne Slot’s side who saw Arsenal and Manchester City lose their matches while they managed to win theirs with a comeback win against Brighton at Anfield.
Arteta’s comments about Joelinton’s physicality shows that the Spanish manager is looking for something similar from his team but he failed to find that against a strong Newcastle side.
The Magpies needed this win against the Gunners to change the mood around the club and this win could just be the result they were looking for to push more and turn around their season.
The truth of the matter is Arteta is a very stubborn person I he always chooses what he told himself because if he had bought a natural striker with the present players we have we will achieve why not start Nwaneri if don’t start him now is it when Odegarde return he will start him I said it before now that he will be using Trossard in the Second half not that he can’t start from first team but HD is better when he comes as a substitute because he watches every players movement the moment he comes in he utilized itok since Arteta started using him as a first team player how many goals has him scored you better start as a substitute and make impact than to start as first team player without anything to show like today if Arteta had started Nwaneri and bring Trossard later nothing would have stopped not to score why so many players do not do well as a substitute is many of them are unhappy when they are not playing if the coach called him to warm up he will not do well because already he is not happy so Arteta change the way you are using Trossard so as to come scoring again.
Arsenal was not as sharp and physical as Newcastle and was badly prepared for the aggressive contact and sharpness of this prepared Newcastle team.
Arteta is solely to blame followed by big game usual no show Havertz, who always goes missing in the big 50 50 competitive games against equal attacking sides.
Also Marino is not working out playing with Rice. They do not Gel together as Marino should be playing Defensive Midfield but is not up to speed, and therefore Rice should be playing Defensive Midfield with Marino on the bench.
Partey is also not up to speed, like Jorginho and both should have been replaced with the addition of a world class striker to play instead of Havertz.
Because in the more competitive bigger games like against Newcastle yesterday, plus the ManCity and Liverpool type games ,Havertz will usually goes missing in the more equal under pressure competitive games. Also should have kept either smith Rowe or Viera for another year at least, with no creative back up.
Arteta is stubborn and has probably already told the directors that he has enough firepower up front and therefore has to make do with what he has or loose face with his directors.