Mikel Arteta must take blame for selection error vs Newcastle as Arsenal take step backwards

The implications of this decision successful the North East volition not yet beryllium afloat known, but they are apt to beryllium achy for Arsenal.

Newcastle hinted astatine conscionable however pugnacious an day was successful store for the Gunners when, successful midweek, they comprehensively dumped Chelsea retired of the Carabao Cup. Mikel Arteta and his coaching unit whitethorn person taken heed, but galore of the Arsenal players evidently did not.

Just arsenic happened to Chelsea connected Wednesday, the Gunners were outfought connected each fronts, dominating possession but acold from the game’s ascendant squad successful this 1-0 defeat.

Despite the boost earlier kick-off that Gabriel had been passed acceptable from a insignificant genu wounded successful bid to spouse William Saliba, the Arsenal backline were fixed a more-than-uncomfortable clip of things by Anthony Gordon, Joelinton and Alexander Isak, Newcastle’s dynamic beforehand three. Isak was near wholly unmarked successful the mediate to caput location Gordon’s inch-perfect transverse for the game’s lone goal.

Most concerning for Mikel Arteta and his coaching unit was conscionable however agelong their broadside had to get backmost into the game. Isak’s bullet-header came successful the 12th minute, and yet Arsenal were devoid of ideas, of attacking ingenuity. Most glaringly, they lacked thing remotely adjacent to a objective edge. Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka nodded wide from precise presentable positions either broadside of the break, during which clip Arteta’s half-time words failed to rouse his slumbering players.

Even though Arsenal’s 2nd decision of the play was going to get eventually, Arteta volition beryllium disquieted astatine however outplayed his broadside was. It appeared an admittance of nonaccomplishment for however helium had acceptable his midfield up that helium took Mikel Merino disconnected aft 61 minutes. The crippled had mostly been played astir the Spaniard connected his instrumentality to St James’ Park. Arteta utilized each 5 of his substitutes, thing budged the people of the game.

Defeat leaves the Gunners 5 points down defending champions and league leaders Manchester City, who look Bournemouth aboriginal successful the day. It is acold from the desirable audition for Wednesday's distant crippled against Inter Milan successful the Champions League. And Chelsea follow, adjacent weekend. Martin Odegaard cannot travel backmost soon enough.

It was hard not to wonderment whether Arsenal person successful information taken a measurement backwards from past season, erstwhile they mislaid the rubric to City by conscionable 2 points. It had been a genuine rubric race; Arsenal had been genuine contenders. They are expected to beryllium contenders this play and had looked similar it. This show raises much than a kernel of doubt.