Mikel Arteta and his team took the initiative and completely controlled the match with 70% possession. Despite having 23 shots, Arsenal only had 3 shots on target.
In contrast, Newcastle showed a frightening pragmatism with only 4 attempts on goalkeeper David Raya’s goal and 2 goals. The Gunners’ expensive attack was overshadowed by the excellence and coolness of striker Alexander Isak.
Main striker Kai Havertz had 4 shots but failed to score. Meanwhile, the surrounding satellites such as Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber and Gabriel Magalhaes all had 3 shots but could not beat goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.
Alexander Isak only needed two shots in the entire 90 minutes to score and set up teammate Anthony Gordon for a goal. This was the Swedish striker's 15th goal in all competitions, with three-quarters of those coming in less than a month.
With Alexander Isak's performance, Arsenal are certainly eager to have this important transfer target. This comes in the context of the "Gunners" attack line is increasingly playing deadlocked and becoming the main reason for the poor results in recent times.
Speaking after the match, coach Mikel Arteta shared: “In every aspect, we played better. However, the opponent scored two goals and deserved to win. When we miss opportunities and concede goals, it affects the spirit of the game.”
As for Newcastle, they just had their first win at the Emirates Stadium since November 2010. This helps Eddie Howe's team continue to dream of a title this season after a 55-year drought. They are currently on a 7-match winning streak in all competitions.
