IF THIS was Alexander Isak’s Arsenal audition then he passed it with flying colours – but he threw a huge grenade in the title hopes of his potential future employers.
Newcastle’s Swedish striker, 25, has been on Mikel Arteta’s radar for months after his blistering form last term.
After contract talks were put on hold and with just one goal in his opening seven appearances this season, talk of a £130million transfer appeared to be way off.
But what a difference a week makes as his third strike in just six days left Arsenal looking more like title pretenders than contenders as they suffered a second consecutive away defeat for the first time since May 2022.
Arteta’s tactics were spot on early on, opting for a direct approach in order to beat the Toon press, unlike Chelsea in midweek.
There were no short kicks from goalie David Raya, with 6ft 2in Mikel Merino preferred in the middle to help support Kai Havertz and the attackers rather than Jorginho.
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Meanwhile, the Magpies were struggling to work out how to stop inverted full-back Jurrien Timber.
And it was the Dutchman, who Anthony Gordon seemed unsure whether to track back with or not, who provided Bukayo Saka with Arsenal’s first chance that was smashed into the side-netting.
But Newcastle had the perfect response by going classic route one themselves and it produced the opener on 12 minutes.
The move started with a long ball forward from Tino Livramento from right-back deep into the opposition half and his team-mates reacted fast to win it.
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Sean Longstaff spotted man-of-the-match Gordon free down the right, slipping in the winger to hit a brilliant first-time cross for Isak to ghost in between two defenders to head home.
Saka nodded wide for the visitors but Gordon was soon at it again as another curled cross just evaded Joelinton at the far post.
It was another header that caused panic next, this time up the opposite end as William Saliba put Declan Rice’s far-post corner back into the mixer, but Eddie Howe’s men survived as Lewis Hall’s back blocked Merino’s volley.
The game was on a knife-edge, but the tension was not only out on the pitch.
Arsenal player ratings vs Newcastle
ARSENAL fell to defeat to Newcastle in a fresh blow to their title ambitions.
The Magpies won 1-0 thanks to a fine header from Alexander Isak.
Here, SunSport’s Jordan Davies rates the players…
DAVID RAYA – 6/10
Great early distribution to go long over the Newcastle press but nothing he could do with Isak’s pin-point header.
Was barely troubled in the second half but was forced to watch a lacklustre Arsenal dawdle to another defeat.
THOMAS PARTEY – 7
Looks really comfortable in that role, even if it is only temporary, but obviously lacks an attacking threat of a full-back which hindered Saka slightly.
Moved back into midfield on the hour mark with Arsenal chasing the game.
WILLIAM SALIBA – 7
A welcome presence back in the defensive line following suspension. Covered his defensive partner well and kept his cool amid Arsenal’s frustration.
GABRIEL – 5
Lost Isak in the box for Newcastle’s opener and nearly handed the hosts another chance with a sloppy pass out.
Normally a rock, this was one of those rare jittery displays we thought were a thing of the past.
JURRIEN TIMBER – 6
Looked good in attack but arguably should have closed down Gordon’s cross before the hosts took the lead and struggled to contain the England winger in the first half.
MIKEL MERINO – 5
Unfortunate not to get on the score sheet against his former club from close range after a scramble from a corner.
But as a whole, he currently looks lost in his position, unsure of when to go and when to sit deep, meaning Newcastle were able to prize Arsenal’s midfield open.
Feels like we are not seeing the best of him just yet.
DECLAN RICE – 6
On set-piece duty, his delivery was unusually poor, failing to beat the first man on numerous occasions and struggled to impose himself in open play too, even if he came close with a deflected effort in the second half before fluffing a great headed chance in injury time.
If he is going to be the anchor of this team and dictate play, he has got to be a lot better.
LEANDRO TROSSARD – 5
Pretty anonymous other than a few surging runs. Another player that looks lost in a floating No.10 role behind the main striker.
The Belgian is at his best cutting in and using his blistering pace. He can do neither through the middle against a compact opposition set-up.
BUKAYO SAKA – 6
Looked to be getting the better of Toon right-back Hall early on but his game faded after that, along with his team’s.
GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 7
Showed glimpses of being back to his buzzing best, taking on defenders and stretching the game for Arsenal, but only lasted an hour before being taken off.
KAI HAVERTZ – 6
Never got a sniff, but got to put that down to a complete lack of service from Arsenal’s wide players. He was desperate to attack a decent cross that never really came.
SUBS:
ETHAN NWANERI (MERINO, 61) – 6
Given a nice welcome to Tyneside with a crunching tackle from Willock seconds after coming on.
Found some nice pockets of space and look sharp as he blazed one over from range, but was always a big ask for him to be Arsenal’s saviour.
OLEKSANDR ZINCHENKO (MARTINELLI, 61) – 5
Thrown on to bring tempo and control. Brought neither from an inverted left-back position.
BEN WHITE (TIMBER, 71) – 6
Had only completed half a session to prepare for this one having picked up a knock against Liverpool last weekend, so was a surprise to even see him at all.
GABRIEL JESUS (TROSSARD) – 5
Tasked with creating something special from out wide, but there is a reason the Brazilian is only a bit-part player nowadays.
JORGINHO (PARTEY, 86) – N/A
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Arteta had already appeared to ask the fourth official to move Jason Tindall back into his technical area before having another jibe at Howe’s No2 as the break approached.
Fabian Schar was the first to be booked, kicking the ball away after his team conceded a free-kick, and Joelinton geed-up the crowd after Newcastle’s defence cut out another attack before the whistle.
It was an unusual position for Arteta and his Gunners as they plotted their comeback at the break, a situation that had not occurred for 29 Premier League matches.
They were first back out after no doubt being read the riot act, but that could have gone out the window as Gordon played Willock through within seconds, only Raya denied the star a goal against his old side.
It was time to throw the dice on the hour mark, Arteta pushing Thomas Partey from full-back into his favoured midfield while Oleksandr Zinchenko came off the bench and teen whizkid Ethan Nwaneri replaced Gabriel Martinelli.
However, it was Newcastle that almost sealed it moments later. But Raya dived to push away Isak’s stinging strike.
Another double change followed, Ben White and Gabriel Jesus taking Timber and Leandro Trossard’s spots with twenty to go.
There were fears when Saka went down clutching his ankle as Arteta’s day threatened to go from bad to worse but the captain was able to stay on.
But despite everything they could try, Toon defended valiantly and in numbers, and the powder puff Gunners attack was unable to find a way through as Rice headed agonisingly wide at the back post right at the death.
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And even though having someone of Isak’s ilk in attack could have made all the difference, it is at the back where Arteta will be most concerned.
Arsenal only conceded ten goals in their first 22 top-flight matches in 2024 – the same figure they have now shipped in their last six.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
