Newcastle United put an end to Arsenal’s unbeaten start to the season by securing a crucial victory with Anthony Gordon’s scrappy goal in the 64th minute. The match, which took place at St. James’ Park, witnessed an intriguing unfolding of events.
The first half of the match was characterized by more bookings than shots on target, and it seemed like both teams were struggling to break the deadlock. However, the turning point came in the second half, in an unusual and somewhat bizarre sequence of events. Substitute Joe Willock chased down a loose cross, preventing it from going out of play. In a surprising twist, the former Arsenal midfielder delivered a cross that sailed over the head of Arsenal’s goalkeeper, David Raya. Joelinton managed to head the ball down, and in the ensuing chaos, Anthony Gordon scrambled the ball into the net.
The goal itself was shrouded in controversy, with a prolonged VAR check to determine whether the ball had stayed in play, whether Gordon was offside, or whether Joelinton had committed a foul. After much deliberation, the goal was eventually confirmed, sparking jubilation at St. James’ Park.
Following this, Arsenal attempted to seize control of the game and dominated possession in search of an equalizer. However, their efforts were in vain, as they were unable to even muster a shot on target. Newcastle’s relentless workrate and solid defending made them the first team to shut out Mikel Arteta’s side this season.
As a result of this significant upset, Arsenal missed an opportunity to draw level with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table. Instead, they slipped to third place with 24 points. Meanwhile, Newcastle’s hard-earned victory propelled them to sixth place in the league standings with 20 points.
