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. FULL TIME: Newcastle United 1-0 Arsenal 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 into 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. 66 min: This is turning into a basketball match, and Tonali is upended by Timber as Newcastle go up the other end. Timber goes into the book, and nothing comes of the resulting free kick. Speaking of basketball, here’s Russell E again, thankfully not taking Chris’s bait: “To be fair, Arsenal look more like the Bad News Bears than the Chicago Bulls at this point.” 65 min: Before the corner, Tonali comes on for the recently booked Willock. Then Pope clears the set piece. 64 min: Some luck for Arsenal there, and now Newcastle get theirs up the other end. Rice dribbles down the inside-left channel with purpose and into the box. He shoots low, and his effort is deflected, nearly nestling into the bottom right. Inches wide of the post, with Pope’s feet planted, the keeper totally beaten. Just a corner. Saka to take. 63 min: A bit of space opens up for Isak, who shoots from distance. Raya parries with a strong hand, and the rebound somehow evades Gordon. 62 min: Welcome to Newcastle, Ethan Nwaneri! He’s on the end of an instant reducer from Willock, who goes into the book as a result. Willock can have no complaints after that no-nonsense nonsense. 61 min: … and here it is. Martinelli and Merino make way for Zinchenko and the exciting 17-year-old prospect Nwaneri. 60 min: Arsenal are preparing a double change. Mikel Arteta not a happy man. 58 min: Willock drives at Saliba down the inside-left channel. He makes just enough space to shoot from just inside the box, but leans back and blazes over. The defender’s positioning doing just enough. “It’s quite ironic seeing Arsenal fans complain about simulating fouls when their team would go to ground under a stiff breeze,” argues Chris in response to Russell E. Play nicely, now, everyone. 56 min: … so having said that, Merino goes into the book for a frustrated lunge from behind on Guimaraes. 54 min: Trossard tap-tackles Willock from behind and is fairly fortunate the referee is in a laissez-faire mood this afternoon. 53 min: Isak sprays a pass wide right, where Gordon, Livramento and Longstaff combine to win a corner. Gordon takes the set piece. Not particularly well, it has to be said, and Arsenal clear their lines easily enough. The set-piece deliveries have been hopeless so far today. Just as well for Gordon he’s in plenty of moral credit for that sensational assist. 52 min: Martinelli dinks a ball infield from the left, encouraging Trossard to burst into the box down the channel. Burn extends a long leg to turn the ball out for a corner, which Rice hits long … but neither Merino nor Saliba can connect at the far stick. 50 min: Arsenal stroke it around the back, moves to encourage the St James’ atmosphere to simmer down. The gambit works. 49 min: Timber crosses from a deep position on the left. Schar heads away powerfully and then the flag goes up for offside. This doesn’t feel like a match that’s going to end 1-0 … but good luck correctly calling the team who changes that scoreline. 47 min: It’s Gordon to Willock again, a cross from the right this time that his team-mate can’t guide goalwards Isak-style. The early signs suggest Arsenal aren’t the only team to have been given some trenchant half-time encouragement. 45 min 30 sec: Raya keeps Arsenal in the game after Newcastle start the half fast. Gordon advances down the right and feeds Willock, whose shot towards the top right is snaffled well by the keeper. Arsenal get the second half underway. No changes. Half-time postbag. “On the TV, the commentators are running through the litany all too familiar now from recent Arsenal performances: they’re missing Martin Ødegard; Trossard isn’t doing enough; Martinelli below his best; Arteta will have a lot to do it half time, and shouldn’t Nwaneri come on? To each one the Arsenal fan will be nodding sagely. Also, seething at the kicking that Saka is getting, as a bonus. What a way to spend a Saturday lunchtime” – Charles Antaki Half-time postbag. “On the TV, the commentators are running through the litany all too familiar now from recent Arsenal performances: they’re missing Martin Ødegard; Trossard isn’t doing enough; Martinelli below his best; Arteta will have a lot to do it half time, and shouldn’t Nwaneri come on? To each one the Arsenal fan will be nodding sagely. Also, seething at the kicking that Saka is getting, as a bonus. What a way to spend a Saturday lunchtime” – Charles Antaki “I know absence makes the heart grow fonder and a footballer better, but it really feels like the Arsenal attack doesn’t function properly without Ødegaard. Saka and Martinelli are tricky dribblers, Havertz a languid killer, and Trossard a buzzing marksman. But all of them lack the eye for the unexpected. The Norwegian makes passes no one else on that team sees” – Kári Tulinius “Why is it that when Newcastle simulates fouls, wastes time, and plays in an overly physical manner they’re hailed as playing football the proper way? It reminds me of watching the Bad Boy Detroit Pistons against the Chicago Bulls* in the late 80s. It’s so obviously cynical, and is about as compelling as watching JD Vance try to tell a joke. (I was a Bulls fan when Michael Jordan was in his prime)” – Russell E “Despite Arsenal’s Merino, it was Newcastle’s jumper that’s proved to be the difference in a lively first half” – Grant Tennille (who is here all week, ladies and gentlemen, try the tomato plate) Half-time reading. This is not Arsenal’s only big 12.30pm kick-off of the weekend. Tom Garry reports on tomorrow lunchtime’s showdown with Manchester United. HALF TIME: Newcastle United 1-0 Arsenal Anthony Gordon’s delicious cross and Alexander Isak’s unstoppable header the difference. A goal worthy of winning any game. Can Arsenal do something about that? They’ll have some puzzles to solve during the break, because they’ve been comfortably held at arm’s length up front. 45 min +2: Martinelli crosses from the left. Pope, who otherwise hasn’t had too much to do so far, punches clear. Then the keeper’s in action again, claiming Merino’s floated left-wing cross with ease. On the touchline, Mikel Arteta folds his arms tightly and frowns. 45 min +1: Partey is being booed on his every touch. Panto season soon! 45 min: There will be three additional first-half minutes. 43 min: Partey up the other end now, checking Willock out on the Newcastle left. The referee gives him a talking-to, ushering him into the last-chance saloon. The resulting free kick is clanked into the nearest defender by Gordon. What a waste, with the Arsenal box full of players. 42 min: Partey whips deep from the left. At the far post, Joelinton holds his ground to usher the ball out for a goal kick, then celebrates the defensive action in the Guimarares/Arsenal style. 40 min: Longstaff is booked for a fairly obvious grab at Trossard from behind … eh, scrub that. The midfielder surely should have gone into the referee’s notebook, but in fact it’s Schar who has been shown the yellow, for kicking the ball away after the foul was awarded. That doesn’t make a great deal of sense, but should please Arsenal’s fans, if nothing else, in the wake of recent similar decisions against Rice and Trossard. 39 min: Despite the scoreline, it’s the Arsenal fans making the most noise right now. Their team still doing the lion’s share of attacking. 37 min: Trossard tries to release Saka down the inside-right channel but the pass is overcooked. Goal kick. Out on the left, Martinelli, still running hot, spins around in disgust at not receiving a pass. The Brazilian looks like a booking waiting to happen … so to be fair, he then does well not to respond when Newcastle are awarded a goal kick after a ricochet between him and Livramento. A bite of the lip and he quietly moves away. 35 min: Guimaraes goes down and requires some treatment, having been caught late – albeit accidentally – by Merino. Thankfully for Newcastle, their man soon pops back up again. 33 min: Martinelli isn’t happy with the award of a throw to Newcastle, and tells it as he sees it to anyone around to listen. The referee returns the volley with a lecture of his own, and informs his captain Saka that any more hot chat will lead to trouble. 32 min: Another corner for Arsenal, from the left. Rice hits long. Saliba can’t guide anything goalwards at the far stick. The home crowd getting anxious now. St James’ not quite as noisy as it was a few minutes ago. 31 min: Arsenal are snapping into their press, and Newcastle are currently uncomfortably skittish. A couple of hurried clearances and shanks into the crowd. But they’re holding onto their lead, so it’s swings and roundabouts. 29 min: A free kick for Newcastle this time, out on the right. Hall launches it diagonally from deep. Willock crosses from the left, but Havertz, who does his fair share of defensive work for Arsenal, heads it clear. 27 min: Rice’s set-piece work is better here, Saliba winning a header from his delivery into the six-yard box. Merino meets the dropping ball and blooters it goalwards, only for Hall to bravely block. Newcastle clear their lines. On another day, that shot would have pinballed its way into the net. Arsenal getting closer. 26 min: Saka embarks on an electric dribble down the right. He’s got Hall on toast. He whistles a low cross into the mixer. Any touch from an Arsenal player and it’s an equaliser. Saka is livid that Schar gets to it before Martinelli and Havertz, shovelling the ball over the bar from close range. That could easily have been an own goal. 25 min: Gordon recovers and twists Timber’s blood down the right flank, before flashing a shot across the face of the Arsenal goal. There’s nobody there to turn home, but Newcastle get a corner from it nonetheless. Schar makes a nuisance of himself in the six-yard box, but Raya eventually claims. It’s a good game, this. 23 min: Arsenal don’t look fazed at trailing, to their credit. Now Merino advances down the left touchline and draws a foul. Another set piece, another chance to do their thing. But again, Rice’s delivery is appalling, slapping the nearby Gordon straight in his startled face. Brave defending, because that will have hurt. Rice’s dead-ball work uncharacteristically dreadful so far. 21 min: Gordon whips in again from the right. The ball evades Joelinton at the far post … but then, just as it looks like going out for a goal kick or throw, clanks into the corner flag and stays in! Joelinton is first to respond, but can’t take advantage of the lucky break. A shame, if only because Mikel Arteta’s face would have been a picture had a goal resulted from that. Now we’ll never see it. 19 min: Martinelli advances again down the left, his cross dangerous but intercepted by Guimaraes, who chests down and blooters clear, then celebrates his work like he would a goal. A leaf out of Arsenal’s book in that respect. Their defenders enjoy a bit of that. And why not? 18 min: Arsenal have responded well to falling behind, in so much as they’ve re-established their dominance of possession. Martinelli and Havertz combine nicely down the left, the latter standing one up for Saka at the far stick. Saka beats Hall in the jump, but can only waft a header wide right. “What a buildup,” writes Mary Waltz. “Gordon’s cross so lovely, Isak’s header a thunderbolt. A textbook example of attacking football. Brilliant!” 16 min: A worrying stat for Arsenal flashed up by TNT Sports: Newcastle are one of only three Premier League teams yet to drop a point from a winning position this season. Liverpool and Manchester United are the other two. 15 min: Nope. Rice’s delivery, towards a crowded Toon box, fails to beat the first man. The hosts clear their lines. 14 min: That was a proper old-school cross and header. Perfectly executed. Arsenal had been the better side in the early exchanges as well. Can Arsenal respond immediately, having won a free kick out on the right? GOAL! Newcastle United 1-0 Arsenal (Isak 12) Newcastle have done nothing in attack … until now, and this goal is an absolute peach! A bit of space for Gordon down the right. He sends an out-swinger into the box, perfectly onto Isak’s head, ten yards out. Isak rises gracefully before planting an unstoppable header across Raya and into the top-left corner. That was glorious. So simple, but glorious. 11 min: Arsenal are on top. A simple long pass down the middle finds Timber on the edge of the Newcastle box. He feeds Saka to his right. Saka steps away from Hall before flashing a low drive inches wide of the right-hand post. Had it been on target, Pope might not have been set to respond to that. The keeper looked on his heels. 9 min: Now it’s Arsenal’s turn for a corner, Trossard’s presence forcing Longstaff into its concession down the left. Rice curls it viciously into the six-yard box, a magnificently dangerous delivery that Pope does extremely well to claw off his line and away from danger. 7 min: The crowd descend into, to borrow a phrase from Brass Eye, a low miff. That’s because Raya and Arsenal take their sweet time over a kick upfield. 5 min: … so having said that, Newcastle suddenly spring into life. Joelinton, Longstaff and Willock combine smoothly down the left to win the first corner of the game. Gordon swings it in. Havertz heads clear, but that’s got the crowd going, just as Eddie Howe requested. 4 min: By contrast it’s a quiet start for the hosts. They’ve barely had a touch yet. 2 min: Arsenal don’t waste time in pushing forward. A bit of early probing on the edge of the Newcastle box, Partey and Saka heavily involved. Then finally a shot, Trossard dragging a low diagonal effort yards wide right. Newcastle get the ball rolling. They’re playing towards the Gallowgate End in this first half. … but not before a rendition of the Last Post, with Remembrance Sunday upcoming. RIP the fallen. All perfectly observed, applause ripping through the silence at the end. The teams are out! Newcastle in black and white, Arsenal in red and white. They always look good, these two. John Lennon’s artist’s eye rarely let him down. On that subject, the coda of one his old combo’s toppermost-of-poppermost hits pours out of the St James’ Park speakers. Then Mark Knopfler’s paean to Pennan. Choice tracks and a rare old atmosphere. We’ll be off in a minute. Eddie Howe’s turn to chat with TNT. “Your intent and attitude has to be spot on in ever game … our first few actions against Chelsea [in the League Cup] were really good, it set the tone and got the crowd in the match … we’re going to need the same again today … I’m trying to manage everyone’s game-load … Sandro misses out from the start but will be important from the bench … it will be competitive … last year we were strong, resolute, resilient … we’ll need those qualities against an outstanding team.” Pre-match postbag. “I had big hopes for Mikel Merino during his short time at Newcastle, but it never quite worked out for whatever reason. He’s such an easy player to watch, got that smoothness you associate with Spanish midfielders, to go with a bit of bite. I like what Eddie Howe has done with the lineup and despite the literal cries for Tonali to always play, Longstaff allows the two Brazilians more confidence to roam. Anyway, both of these clubs have the most cringeworthy ‘Adidas: Originals Reboot’ training and casual range for sale. You can get the original versions on Ebay and they smell more like the 90s” – Chris Paraskevas “The star attraction of an Arsenal game these days is betting on (in non-monetary friendly banter) if Arteta will receive a yellow or a red. Arteta would benefit by taking lessons from one Don Carlo Ancelotti” – Krishnamoorthy V (who may or may not have missed Ancelotti all hot-faced last weekend, pompously wagging a finger in Hansi Flick’s face when Barcelona’s bench reacted to goal number four) Mikel Arteta is asked about Arsenal’s upcoming Newcastle-Inter-Chelsea run by TNT Sports. “That’s the beauty of it, to play these big matches in beautiful stadiums against great opponents … that’s what we want … Gabi trained yesterday so is fit … Ben [White] didn’t make it, he only had half a session yesterday, we have to protect him … to play with 11 players is critical … the games are decided by fine margins … the team can adapt to any scenario … we lost momentum [against Liverpool] … the belief is 100 percent … today is a really good scenario for us.” Arteta also thanks both the Premier League and Newcastle for allowing and supporting the wearing of black armbands today, in the wake of the Spain floods disaster. “It is terrible what has happened … a big mess … the message we can send is something very positive and I am very grateful for that.” Both sides could do with the three points this lunchtime, to rediscover some form if nothing else. Newcastle were buoyed by their League Cup victory over Chelsea during the week, but they’re five without a win in the Premier League. Arsenal also enjoyed some Carabou-infused fun midweek, swanning past Preston, but otherwise haven’t been their usual imperious selves of late: they’re two without a win in the Premier League, while recent victories over Leicester, Southampton and Shakhtar Donetsk caused more stress along the way than was perhaps necessary. Here’s where everyone stands in the big picture. Newcastle make three changes to the team that started the 2-1 defeat at Chelsea last weekend. Anthony Gordon, Joe Willock and Sean Longstaff come in for Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes and Miguel Almirón, all of whom drop to the bench. Injury worry Alexander Isak makes it. Arsenal make one change to their XI after the 2-2 draw with Liverpool. William Saliba is back from the suspension he picked up at Bournemouth, so Ben White makes way by dropping to the bench. Gabriel and Jurriën Timber have both shrugged off injury issues to start. The teams Newcastle United: Pope, Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall, Longstaff, Guimaraes, Willock, Gordon, Isak, Joelinton. Subs: Dubravka, Tonali, Barnes, Krafth, Osula, Almiron, Kelly, Alex Murphy, Miley. Arsenal: Raya, Partey, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Saka, Merino, Rice, Martinelli, Havertz, Trossard. Subs: Neto, White, Gabriel Jesus, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Sterling, Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri. Referee: John Brooks (Leicestershire). Preamble It’s the Walls and Bridges derby! Whatever gets you through lunchtime, s’alright. A lot has happened between Newcastle and Arsenal since young Winston O’Boogie illustrated that FA Cup final. George Eastham, Marc Overmars and Nicolas Anelka, Cheik Tioté, all that. So let’s just fast forward to last November, when this blew up in everyone’s startled coupon … … and we never heard the end of it for aeons. That was a rare victory for Toon against the Gunners, who went on to avenge their loss with a 4-1 rout at the Emirates three months later; Arsenal have therefore won nine of the last 12 Premier League matches against Newcastle. So depending which way you slice it, recent history either favours the hosts or visitors. No need to thank us, we’re here to help, but suffice to say it’s set up nicely: Newcastle need to haul themselves back into the race for Europe, while Arsenal are desperate to keep on Manchester City and Liverpool’s tail. Kick-off is at 12.30pm GMT. It’s on!