Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal: Gordon ends Gunners’ unbeaten run

Anthony Gordon’s decisive goal secured a 1-0 victory for Newcastle, ending Arsenal’s unbeaten start to the Premier League season and narrowing the gap to the top four. The first half was intense but lacked quality in the final third, with Kai Havertz’s reckless challenge standing out as the most notable moment. Despite the melee that followed, Havertz escaped a red card. Emotions remained high in the second half, but it was Gordon who broke the deadlock in the 64th minute, tapping in from close range after David Raya failed to deal with Joe Willock’s cross. Arsenal attempted to find an equalizer late in the game but were unsuccessful, as Newcastle extended their unbeaten run to seven matches in the top flight. The result leaves Arsenal in third place, three points behind the leaders, with upcoming matches against Liverpool and Tottenham. Newcastle, on the other hand, sit in sixth place, just four points behind Arsenal. Their focus now shifts to a Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund before facing Bournemouth. Arsenal will also be in action in Europe, hosting Sevilla before taking on Burnley. The talking point of the match was the contentious decisions, with Havertz’s challenge and Guimaraes’ forearm to Jorginho’s face both escaping punishment after VAR reviews. Even the goal was subject to scrutiny, with VAR checking for various potential infringements before ultimately allowing it to stand. For Arsenal, it was a disappointing week following their Carabao Cup loss to West Ham, while Newcastle continued to impress, maintaining their unbeaten streak and building on their midweek cup win against Manchester United. Jamaal Lascelles was the standout player for Newcastle, commanding the defense and repelling Arsenal’s attacks. In terms of player ratings, Newcastle’s Joelinton and Gordon received high marks, while Arsenal’s Havertz struggled. Key stats from the match include Gordon’s impressive scoring record in recent games and Newcastle’s four consecutive home wins without conceding a goal, a feat they haven’t achieved since 2012.