Newcastle ended Arsenal’s undefeated start to the Premier League season as VAR controversially allowed Anthony Gordon’s goal to stand in the Magpies’ explosive 1-0 victory on Sunday (all times AEDT).
Mikel Arteta’s side were defeated for the first time in 11 league games, with the Arsenal manager labelling the defeat “a disgrace”.
Joelinton clearly pushed Arsenal defender Gabriel as the pair challenged for Joe Willock’s cross, with the ball running for Gordon to score from close-range.
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As well as appealing in vain for a foul by Joelinton, Arsenal angrily claimed the ball had gone out before Willock’s cross.
It was one of a host of debatable moments in a tempestuous encounter at St James’ Park.
Arsenal’s Kai Havertz and Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes were both lucky to avoid red cards in the first half.
“The result should not be what it is. Embarrassing what happened, how this goal stands, in the Premier League, this league we say is the best in the world,” Arteta said.
“I’ve been 20 years in this country and now I feel ashamed. It’s a disgrace. There’s too much at stake here. We are trying to do incredible things and be at the highest level each week.
“When we’re not good enough I hold my hands up and take responsibility. The outcome is nowhere near the level this league needs to have and the way this league is getting competed in. It’s not good enough. I feel embarrassed to be part of this.”
Coming just days after they crashed out of the League Cup at West Ham, Arsenal’s second successive loss was a painful blow to their title bid.
Arteta’s men sit in third place, three points behind leaders Manchester City, with Tottenham able to move into pole position and climb five points ahead of their north London rivals if they beat Chelsea on Tuesday.
Newcastle’s victory capped a memorable week for Eddie Howe’s sixth-placed team, who knocked Manchester United out of the League Cup at Old Trafford on Friday.
Howe disagreed with Arteta’s assessment of the winner, saying: “I haven’t seen anything other than what I saw at the time. It looked a good goal to me.
“It’s a massive win, full credit to players. It was a battling performance.” In a scrappy first half, perspiration rather than inspiration was the driving force as both teams thudded into tackles and pressed relentlessly.
Much of the frenetic action ended with a lack of focus and composure in the final third and Newcastle failed to muster a single shot in the opening half hour.
Arsenal were hardly more clinical, creating precious little to worry Newcastle keeper Nick Pope.
A tetchy evening finally boiled over when Havertz launched into a reckless challenge that sent Sean Longstaff crashing down, sparking a melee between the teams.
Havertz escaped with a booking from referee Stuart Attwell, much to the frustration of Longstaff and teammates Gordon and Fabian Schar, who were all booked for protesting the decision.
Gabriel Martinelli’s strike was held by Pope in a rare moment of Arsenal incision, but Guimaraes brought an appropriately acrimonious end to the half.
The Brazilian was fortunate to avoid a red card as he elbowed Jorginho in the head, then booted the ball at Havertz and was shoved by Declan Rice in retaliation.
Guimaraes seemed to be embracing his role as the game’s agent provocateur and the midfielder’s needless barge into Jorginho somehow escaped punishment after the break.
Rice headed narrowly wide after Newcastle failed to properly clear Martinelli’s cross.
It proved a costly miss as Newcastle took the lead in controversial fashion after 64 minutes.
When Willock retrieved Jacob Murphy’s wayward shot by the corner flag, the ball was perilously close to going out of play.
But the Newcastle midfielder was allowed to continue the attack, whipping over a cross that led to Joelinton’s shove on Gabriel, allowing Gordon to finish from barely a yard out.
Arsenal surrounded Attwell to protest but VAR ruled in Newcastle’s favour on three counts; deciding the ball did not go out, there was no foul by Joelinton and Gordon was not off-side.
Although they dominated possession in the closing stages, Arsenal were impotent in the penalty area as they suffered a first bloody nose this season.
CITY MAULS BOURNEMOUTH AMID HAALAND INJURY SCARE, UNITED EDGE
Manchester City swept to the top of the Premier League as Jeremy Doku’s dazzling display inspired a 6-1 win against Bournemouth, but the champions’ rout was marred by Erling Haaland’s injury scare.
Pep Guardiola’s side ripped Bournemouth apart with three goals in seven minutes late in the first half at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Belgian winger Doku led the way as he scored the treble winners’ opener before setting up Bernardo Silva for the second.
Manuel Akanji deflected in Doku’s shot for City’s third goal and Phil Foden grabbed the fourth after the interval from another Doku assist.
Teed up by Doku yet again, Silva made it five and Nathan Ake completed the demolition job for City.
However, Guardiola will be sweating on Haaland’s fitness after the Norway striker was forced off at half-time following a first-half knock.
“Twist in the ankle. We didn’t want to take risks with him because he didn’t feel comfortable,” Guardiola said.
Haaland’s availability is uncertain for City’s Champions League clash with Young Boys on Wednesday and their Premier League trip to Chelsea next weekend.
Guardiola: Haaland is just starting | 01:02
“He’ll be back maybe (Wednesday) but maybe next (Monday). Hopefully not a big issue,” Guardiola said.
Saluting Doku, the City boss added: “He’s settled so quick. It’s not just today, all the games he played have been really good. He is an incredible threat.”
Since losing to title rivals Arsenal in October, City have reeled off four successive victories in all competitions — including three in the league — to show their hunger for silverware remains strong after last season’s incredible haul.
“This team surprise me a lot. After 11 games we are close. Top of the league, Champions League we have done what we need to do,” Guardiola said.
“The way we are training, the dedication and commitment, we have incredible captains leading.” Guardiola’s men have now won every home game in all competitions in 2023 and sit one point clear of Tottenham.
Ange Postecoglou’s side will regain top spot if they beat Chelsea on Tuesday.
Under-fire Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola finally secured his first Premier League victory last weekend against Burnley.
But there was never any chance of Bournemouth making it two in a row as City laid siege to the Bournemouth goal, with Silva firing just over from the edge of the area.
Rodri’s low shot from a similar distance forced a save from Andrei Radu and Haaland was inches away from scoring the opener when he headed against the post from Julian Alvarez’s cross.
City’s dominance was finally rewarded in the 30th minute as Doku took possession on the edge of the area and played a one-two with Rodri before curling a fine finish past Radu.
Guardiola’s men doubled their lead three minutes later as Doku turned the provider.
Doku’s nimble footwork prised open the Bournemouth defence and Silva calmly converted his cutback from close-range.
With the floodgates well and truly open, City continued the deluge of goals in the 37th minute.
Once again, Doku was the man at the centre of the action with a low 20-yard strike that took a hefty deflection off Akanji as it flashed past Radu.
Foden, on for Haaland, ensured City would not be destabilised by their striker’s departure as the England forward finished off Doku’s pass in the 64th minute.
Luis Sinisterra got one back for Bournemouth with a composed shot on the turn in the 74th minute.
But Silva blasted home from Doku’s superb long pass in the 83rd minute and Ake headed in five minutes later to cap City’s demolition
UNITED EDGE FULLHAM
Manchester United eased the pressure on manager Erik ten Hag as Bruno Fernandes’ stoppage time winner beat Fulham 1-0 on Sunday.
Ten Hag’s future at Old Trafford had come into question over the past week after consecutive 3-0 home defeats to City and Newcastle.
United were again far from spectacular at Craven Cottage but got a much-needed three points thanks to captain Fernandes.
Spurs prepare to welcome old boss | 00:55
The Portuguese midfielder has been a target of stinging criticism in recent weeks for not showing enough leadership on the field, but he produced a rare moment of quality when his side needed it.
Fernandes’ 91st minute shot from the edge of the area had just too much power for Bernd Leno as it squirmed into the bottom corner.
“He showed every time as a captain he is an example,” said Ten Hag.
“You see today how he is working, how he is pressing and in the end he scored the goal.”
MAUPAY BREAKS DROUGHT
Brentford edged the game of the day as the Bees came from behind to beat West Ham 3-2.
Neal Maupay ended a 45-game goal drought to put Brentford in front early on, but West Ham hit back to lead through Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen.
Konstantinos Mavropanos’ own goal brought Thomas Frank’s men level once more before Nathan Collins’ towering header won the game 20 minutes from time.
Sheffield United secured their first win back in the Premier League in dramatic fashion as Oliver Norwood’s 100th minute penalty beat Wolves 2-1.
All three goals came in the final 18 minutes. Cameron Archer fired the Blades in front before Jean-Ricner Bellegarde looked to have snatched a point for Wolves.
Victory is not enough to lift Sheffield United off the bottom of the table, but they move level on points with Burnley and within two points of safety.
Burnley became the first Premier League side to ever lose their first six home games of the season as Crystal Palace won 2-0 at Turf Moor thanks to goals from Jeffrey Schlupp and Tyrick Mitchell.
Everton were denied a third consecutive win for the first time since September 2021 as Ashley Young’s late own goal rescued a 1-1 draw for Brighton at Goodison Park.
ALL RESULTS
FULLHAM 0 MAN UNITED 1
BRENTFORD 3 WEST HAM 2
MAN CITY 6 BOURNEMOUTH 1
SHEFFIELD 2 WOLVES 1
BURNLEY 0 CRYSTAL PALACE 2
EVERTON 1 BRIGHTON 1
NEWCASTLE 1 ARSENAL 0
NOTTM FOREST – ASTON VILLA
LUTON TOWN – LIVERPOOL
TOTTENHAM – CHELSEA
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