Newcastle United 1-0 Arsenal: Premier League – as it happened | Premier League

Louise Taylor was at St James’ Park this afternoon, and her verdict has landed. Here it is. Thanks for reading this MBM.

Eddie Howe’s turn on TNT. “I’m tired, actually … I need a lie down … it was intense … maybe not for the neutral an entertaining game, but fascinating if you were involved in it … a lack of goalmouth action but that’s down to the tactical set-up of both sides … a massive win against a really good team … once we scored, Arsenal played well … we were then content to defend well … we had to … they have threats all over the pitch … I’m really pleased with our defensive performance … heroic blocking … if you can’t play brilliant attacking football every week, you need to find different ways to win … to beat Arsenal shows our qualities.”

Mikel Arteta speaks to TNT. “We started really well … dominant … we don’t defend the box well enough … credit to them, they put an unbelievable header and delivery into the box … from there the game changes … from the moment they go ahead, you have to play a different game … adapt to that … we didn’t well enough … we didn’t find enough answers … at the end, I am very frustrated … we got dragged into a game they were looking for constantly … we did not have enough consistency to get out of that … credit to them … it is time to do it on the pitch … we are not going to find the right words today … we have to be at our best in every department.”

Player of the match Alan Bennett Lewis Hall speaks to TNT Sports. “It was a really really good performance from us … working hard together … Bukayo is an amazing player … if I kept him as quiet as possible, I think I did my job well … every block, tackle and throw-in we win get the crowd going … I absolutely love my time at Newcastle … I’m just proud I can wear the shirt … there are not many left-backs in the England squad, so I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t noticed that … but I’m just concentrating on playing for Newcastle … I can’t thank Eddie Howe enough for what he’s done for me so far … we’re playing good football and getting results and it’s something we can build on.”

Post-match mailbag. “Excellent victory, iconic goal and while Russell E was getting the excuses ready, I’d already jinxed Mikel Merino’s performance in pre-match mailbag. My work here is done. Can’t wait to buy myself a retro jacket from the club store to celebrate (RRP £199)” – Chris Paraskevas

“Nick Pope did exactly what Louise Taylor predicted” – Matthew Lysaght

“This whole season and parts of last season as well, Arsenal have used every dark art found in the Mourinho playbook. So I’m not sure whether Arsenal are complaining about Newcastle’s antics due to unacceptable Newcastle play or deflecting away from their own team’s dull performance. We need Emo Arteta from Squires for confirmation” – Yash Gupta

“The MBMer’s curse at minute 49 held firm. Well done!” – Joe Pearson

Newcastle’s goalscoring hero Alexander Isak speaks to TNT. “That was massive … a big game against a big team … it means a lot … a bit of a statement … heading is not my strongest quality so it feels good to score … it’s special … our fans are amazing, every game, win or lose … it gives you an extra boost … I’ve been successful here and hopefully I can keep going … that cross was amazing … it felt like I just had to jump and put my head on the ball, and the rest would fix itself … credit to [Anthony Gordon] as well … Arsenal have a strong defence … it was a difficult task … I am happy we could score and keep a clean sheet … we’ve had a bad spell but hopefully this win will be an ice-breaker for us … one game at a time.”

That’s a huge win for Newcastle. They scored a world-class goal, Alexander Isak elegantly converting Anthony Gordon’s on-a-plate cross, and defended resolutely afterwards. St James’ Park erupts in celebration, and the home team receives the ovation their efforts deserve. The victory ends a five-game sequence without a Premier League win, and they rise to eighth in the table, where they’ll stay tonight unless Bournemouth pull a surprise against Manchester City. Arsenal will certainly hope the Cherries can do something sensational later this afternoon, because another blunt display has seen them lose further ground on the leaders, and that’s now just one point from the last nine available. They were creatively lacking today, with Declan Rice’s late miss their only real gilt-edged chance of the entire match. Martin Odegaard can’t return quickly enough for the title-chasing Gunners.

Isak’s unstoppable early header is enough for a win that snaps Newcastle’s barren Premier League run!

90 min +7: A yellow card for Havertz, who contests a desperate long ball too enthusiastically.

90 min +6: It’s cheers for Pope now, as he first punches a cross clear, then claims another.

90 min +5: Pope is booked for taking too long over the resulting goal kick, then Guimaraes is replaced by Kelly.

90 min +4: … so having said that, Saka skins Hall down the right and crosses deep. Rice, six yards out at the far post, somehow heads wide left when it was surely easier to score. What a chance for Arsenal to salvage a point!

90 min +3: On TNT, Lucy Ward names Lewis Hall as her player of the match for his work in keeping Bukayo Saka quiet. Speaking of Hall … “Surely David Hockney?” wonders Simon Reeves.

90 min +2: Rice comes through the back of Tonali, and it’s another excuse for Newcastle to run some clock down. Daft from Rice, who shakes his head with annoyance.

90 min +1: Nwaneri, who has been quiet since coming into the game and being immediately whacked, has a go from distance. It’s a wild effort that easily clears the bar, and flies wide too. Pope takes his sweet time over the restart.

90 min: Hall thumps clear with White threatening down the inside-right channel. There will be five additional minutes. Nerves a-clanking for both teams.

88 min: Jorginho is booked for a clumsy clank in the back of Guimaraes.

87 min: Barnes crosses from the right. Joelinton wins a header, but not powerfully, and it’s an easy pluck for Raya. The tension around St James’ Park palpable.

86 min: That’s Gordon’s final contribution. He’s replaced by Barnes, while Arsenal swap Partey for Jorginho.

85 min: Zinchenko crosses deep from the right. Jesus takes it down on the left-hand corner of the six-yard box, and prepares to shoot … only for Gordon to arrive on the scene and nick the ball away. That had to be timed perfectly, for it would have otherwise been a penalty.

84 min: That stoppage for Newcastle’s keeper, then. Here’s Russell E again: “The Guardian’s very own Louise Taylor said yesterday: ‘Players are sometimes awarded mini-rests when Newcastle indulge in the dark arts, principally time-wasting tactics to protect leads. Watch out for Nick Pope going down, apparently injured.’ And here we are.”

83 min: Guimaraes buys a cheap free kick from a clumsy Partey and the pressure on Newcastle is momentarily relieved.

81 min: Another Arsenal free kick comes to nought, as Rice’s delivery from the right is no good. Newcastle attempt to counter, and Gordon, dribbling down the right has options in the middle, but he dillies and dallies and eventually Gabriel arrives from behind to whip the ball off his toe.

79 min: Arsenal are hogging the ball and Newcastle can’t get out. But there’s no final ball. The hosts relatively comfortable as a result.

77 min: After a dousing down with the magic sponge, Pope is good to continue. “No vital insight on the action, but is it just me or does Lewis Hall – if you imagine him with glasses on – bear an uncanny resemblance to a young Alan Bennett?” asks Rob Knap. “Once you’ve seen it, etc. (Admittedly this might be one for a fairly small segment of your audience.)”

75 min: … and now it’s Newcastle’s turn to worry as Pope goes down with nobody around him. On comes the physio.

74 min: Saka goes down in pain having been accidentally clipped on the heel by Hall. A lot of screaming, though he thankfully gets up quickly enough and is back up and running. Arsenal hearts in mouths for a split second there.

72 min: Another Arsenal double swap, and Timber and Trossard make way for Jesus and White.

71 min: Tonali is booked for bringing down an in-flight Havertz.

70 min: Newcastle go up the other end and win a corner down the right. Tonali swings in. It’s another particularly poor delivery, but Arsenal only half clear, and Tonali is able to try again. This time Arsenal deal with the situation. This is getting pretty scrappy.

68 min: Another Arsenal corner comes to nothing. The visitors getting a bit frustrated now.