Newcastle United vs Arsenal summary: score, goals, highlights | Premier League 2023-24

Arsenal three points adrift of Manchester City

Mikel Arteta's side, meanwhile, have fallen three points behind Manchester City, who thrashed Bournemouth earlier on Saturday. However, The Gunners could be five points adrift at the top come Monday, when city rivals Spurs host Chelsea. 

Newcastle close to within three points of Liverpool

The Reds occupy the all-important last Champions League spot, although they have played a game fewer (and there is an incredibly long way to go). Every little helps for The Magpies, though. 

Arsenal: The Invincibles no more

After seven wins and three draws in their first 10 Premier League games, it's all over for Arsenal.

A "tough" day in more ways than one. 

Newcastle United unbeaten in six Premier League games

The Magpies have won their last four at home without conceding a goal.

Could a top-four finish be a possibility once again...?

FULL TIME: NEWCASTLE 1-0 ARSENAL

They've done it!

Arsenal's first Premier League defeat of the season!

Joelinton celebrates that tackle on Rice as if it were a goal!

Dreadful again from Trossard. 

And now we have ANOTHER corner...Is it time for Raya yet?

A free-kick for the Gunners that's almost a corner. 

Another vital clearance from Lascelles just a few yards out as Zinchenko fizzes the ball across goal. 

Two pretty poor deliveries from Trossard, if I'm being honest.

Make that 10...

Another corner for Arsenal, their ninth...

Arsenal are desperate to get back into the game, clearly, but a foul throw from Viera stops them in their tracks. Oops. 

Livramento is next in the book. He's a bit unlucky as he slips and hauls down Martinelli in the process. 

EIGHT minutes of added time coming up. 

Fantastic defensive work again from Livarmento to dispossess Martinelli and then win a foul from the winger. Superb. 

Guimarães shoves Viera in the neck to get past him and gets a yellow card for his troubles. A one-match ban coming up for the Brazilian. 

Nothing, is the short answer. The long answer involved Newcastle clearing several crosses into the box and blocking a Trossard shot. 

Corner for Arsenal. What can they do here?

I've just seen another angle of the goal, which really doesn't do David Raya any favours. And it looks as if Joelinton may well have fouled Gabriel...

Guimarães pressing like a madman to try and close Arsenal down. He didn't win possession but did enough to fore them back a bit. 

Trossard almost has an immediate impact, playing the ball through for Havertz, whose low cross is cleared from almost under his own goal by Lascelles.  

Changes for both teams

Ritchie replaces Murphy for the hosts. 

Trossard and Viera are on for Nketiah and Jorginho for the visitors. 

Substitute Murphy to be substituted

We said before the game that it was a surprise to see Murphy on the bench for Newcastle. He's only just recovered from a shoulder injury and it's just popped out of place again. How's your luck?

Joelinton is not having Havertz at all and dangles a foot in front of the Arsenal midfielder to bring him down. 

Trippier is down for Newcastle, it looks as if Trossard is going to come on for Arsenal. 

Arsenal seeing plenty of the ball now but Newcastle defending in numbers, limiting space. 

Willock has looked lively since coming on and tries to get past Tomiysau and into the box but runs the ball out of play. 

First Arsenal change

Zinchenko replaces White. 

...which comes to nothing. 

...and another one...

How can Arsenal respond? They have a corner...

Gunners fans, there will be a lot of injury time at the end of the game, at least.

Arsenal could be looking at their first Premier League defeat of the season!

Lengthy VAR check

It looks as if they're checking for the ball going out, offside and a foul, all at the same time...

Joelinton bustled his way through into the Arsenal box and laid it off for Murphy, whose effort flashed across goal. It looked as if the chance was over, but Willock picks the ball up near the corner flag and crosses to the back post, where it comes off Joelinton and falls to Gordon, who can't miss from a yard. 

The ball may have gone out of play. We'll see...

Ooooh, this might be disallowed...

Willock and Murphy are both involved!

Double change for Newcastle

Murphy and Willock on for Wilson and Alimrón. 

Rice heads wide!

That's Arsenal's best chance. 

They patiently keep possession on the edge of the box and eventually slide through Martinelli, whose cross to the back post is cleared to Rice, whose header flashes just past the post. 

Guimarães is properly wound up. He barges into Jorginho then screams at the Arsenal man to get up. That was a clear shove...

Oooooh, things are starting to heat up again here. Joelinton tackles Havertz (fair and square) and leans in for a word in his ear. 

The fisticuffs are back!

Wilson and Gabriel are at it this time, waving their arms in the general direction of each other's faces. 

Lascelles makes another superb tackle to pick Nketiah's pocket just as he was looking for space to shoot. 

Another chance for Gordon!

Same again!

Almirón leads the charge and slides Gordon through, but he again takes too long to get a shot away and sees his eventual effort easily blocked. 

Ahhhh, Anthony Gordon. 

The winger gets into a great position on the left and has Joelinton all alone screaming for a layoff. He doesn't spot him though, takes a touch, and another one, and another one, and the chance is pretty much gone.

A decent spell of possession for the hosts ends with them working the ball out to Livramento, whose first-time cross is easily captured by Raya. 

Havertz took a HUUUUUGE chance there, sliding into a tackle in midfield on Wilson. He got a little of the ball but didn't look to be a total control. 

White hoists a cross up high into the night/evening, which Rice gets his head to. It's no threat to Pope, though. 

Livramento's first intervention to win a goal kick after a tackle in the box on Martinelli. "Tinooooo" rings round St James' Park. 

Livramento is at right-back, with Trippier shifting over to the left. 

Second half underway!

More of the same as the last 10 minutes of the first half and not the first 35, please!

Half-time change for Newcastle

Dan Burn looked to be struggling with his back at points during that first half. Tino Livramento comes on in his place.

Who'll play at left-back?

Three Newcastle players booked after Havertz tackle

I'm not sure I've ever seen that before.

It's always seemed a bit odd to me that a dangerous tackle and mouthing off a bit (admittedly, we don't know what was said) carry the same punishment. 

Newcastle vs Arsenal: first half summary

These four pictures perhaps sum up the first 45 minutes better than any words possibly could. 

Half time: Newcastle United 0-0 Arsenal

For the first 30 minutes or so, that was a bit of a let down, if I’m being honest. Neither team was able to get going in attack, with the only noteworthy effort coming from Newcastle’s Callum Wilson, who somehow blasted over from close range when he really should’ve scored.

Arsenal’s only real moment of promise, meanwhile, saw Gabriel Martinelli shoot straight at Nick Pope towards the end of the half, which is when all the action took place.

A late challenge from Kai Havertz on Sean Longstaff lit the touch paper, with the tempo increasing significantly in the last 10 minutes of the half. The German was somewhat fortunate to only get a yellow card, with tensions running high in the aftermath of the challenge.

Will that carry over into the second period?

No-nonsense end to first half

Given how that first half finished, I think this snap of a tackle seems entirely appropriate from the Newcastle social media team. 

Half time: Newcastle 0-0 Arsenal

Let's call that a slow burner. As I said, half time couldn't have come at a worse time!

Crucial intervention from Saliba!

The last act of the half sees the French defender get his head to Trippier's cross before either Wilson or Gordon can right in front of goal! A vital clearance!

Guimarães and Rice clash

More nonsense, this time between Bruno G and Declan R. Handbags at dawn, no yellows. 

Martinelli tests Pope!

I've barely mentioned Nick Pope or Gabriel Martinelli so far. The latter skips away down the left, cuts inside and shoots, but Pope saves relatively comfortably. The first shot on target, I think?

Bruno G is lucky VAR hasn't got involved there. He catches Jorginho with a stray elbow, which goes unpunished. 

Four minutes to be added. 

Guimarães drags shot wide!

If I'm honest, the better chance looked to be for Joelinton, who found space to shoot but saw his effort blocked. The follow-up from Bruno is less promising, but he at least gets it away. Comfortably wide, though. 

Nketiah has barely had a sniff of goal and it stays that way as Lascelles brushes him aside in the box as he looks for a shooting angle. 

Half time? More like wrong time. 

Things have heated up considerably! 

Gordon wastes big chance!

Tripper's curls the ball into the box and it falls at the back post to Gordon, whose touch lets him down and allows Raya to collect!

Huge boos from the home fans as Rice goes in late on Bruno G and gets away with just a free-kick against him. 

Three Newcastle players booked!

That's incredible.

Havertz has also chopped Longstaff's leg off yet THREE Newcastle players have been booked for their protests. Gordon, Schär and Longstaff himself. 

Lucky Havertz!

OOOOOOH Kai Havertz, you lucky, lucky boy. The German inexplicably lunges in on Longstaff by the touchline and gets a yellow, although it looked for a second as if it might be red. 

Some nice triangles from Newcastle but they're struggling to find the final pass to open up the Arsenal defence. 

Nketiah defending all the way back in his own box to cut out Trippier's attempted pass to Guimarães. 

Burn has committed two fouls in quick succession on Saka. Don't be surprised if he gets a yellow card before too long. 

By far the best chance of the game there for the hosts. 

What a miss from Wilson!

How has Wilson missed there?!

Newcastle work a short free-kick, cross for Burn at the back post and his header ricochets into the path of Wilson, who somehow blasts over from just a few yards out!

Tomiyasu again pops up in an attacking position but Jorginho can't quite pick out his run with a chipped pass into the box. 

Fantastic defending - in the end - from Gabriel to thwart Wilson. The Brazilian gives the ball away in the first place but does brilliantly to get back and usher the ball out as the Newcastle striker tries to get past. 

Absolutely nothing from Newcastle in attack so far, which is unusual considering their recent form.

Rice looks in the mood all of sudden (maybe undercooked at the start of the game). He wins another corner after a driving run forward down the left. Nketiah can't get his header on target as the ball comes into the box, though. 

Saka slings a corner in, which is beaten away by Pope to Jorginho, whose first-time volley might well end up in Scotland. 

The first piece of end-to-end play! Almirón races away down the right and looks to pick out Wilson in the middle, only for his pass to be intercepted. 

Rice breaks away upfield and tries to thread a ball through for Nketiah, but neither he nor Saka can get a clear strike away. 

That's a bit more like it. 

Gabriel absolutely fizzes another pass back to Raya, whose touch has to be assured to avoid embarrassment. Thankfully for the Spaniard, it was. 

That's a bit more like it from the hosts! I was expecting them to get right in Arsenal's faces, which they have only done a little. Almirón is right on top of Gabriel this time though, and gets a huge cheer from the home fans despite giving away a foul!

Tomiyasu has first attempt!

Right on cue! The ball falls to the Japanese at the end of the box and his shot is deflected over by Guimarães!

While there's not very much going on in the attacking third, one thing that has really caught my eye is how Arsenal left-back Tomiyasu is playing as an extra midfielder. 

Neither side has really been able to get anything going so far. Very scrappy. 

A missed opportunity for the Gunners! Havertz gets in behind Burn down the Arsenal right and has the chance to pick out Nketiah in the middle but totally misplaces his pass. 

BOOM!

That wasn't for the faint-hearted. Saliba and Joelinton clatter into each other as they challenge for a high ball. Like two tanks colliding. The Brazilian is momentarily down but looks as if he'll be OK to carry on. 

Close! Gabriel almost sells Raya short with another backpass but is has just enough on it to run through to the Arsenal goalkeeper with Wilson lurking. 

The first threat comes from the hosts! Almirón looks as if he's going to burst away from Tomiyasu, who gets back well to stop him. Tripper crosses into the box and Raya does his best Superman impression to punch the ball away under absolutely no pressure. 

Arsenal settling down into a nice period of possession after being on the back foot in the opening moments. 

A frantic start but nothing in the way of dangerous moments in front of goal just yet. 

David Raya has had some bother with backpasses of late and Newcastle are well aware of it, almost catching him cold early on. Almost.

After only 45 seconds, I can confirm they have made a fast start. 100mph so far. 

Underway at St James' Park!

Get ready for a fast start from the hosts!

Poppy Day tribute

A tribute is taking place in memory of those who fought and died in the First World War. Not the best trumpet playing, I must say...

Arsenal will go joint top of the Premier League with a win

Manchester City took Bournemouth apart (6-1) a little earlier and have temporarily moved to the top of the Premier League. The Gunners will join them there with a victory over Newcastle. 

The teams are out, kick off moments away.

Come on!

Arsenal team to play Newcastle: Odegaard injured

Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu; Rice, Jorginho, Havertz; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli. 

Gunners captain Martin Odegaard is not even on the bench because if a hip problem. Gabriel Jesus and Thomas Partey also miss out through injury. 

Newcastle team to play Arsenal: Isak and Tonali absent

With kick off fast approaching, here's a little reminder of how Newcastle will line up. 

Pope; Trippier, Lascelles, Schär, Burn; Guimarães, Longstaff, Joelinton; Almirón, Wilson, Gordon. 

The suspended Sandro Tonali and injured Alexander Isak and amongst the absentees. 

Newcastle vs Arsenal: head-to-head

This is one of the most one-sided fixtures in the Premier League!

Arsenal have won 19 of their last 22 matches against Newcastle and have kept clean sheets in eight of the last nine meetings. As if that weren't enough, The Gunners have kept 30 Premier League clean sheets against The Magpies, the most of any team against another in the competition's history. 

What happened in Arsenal's last game?

Arsenal, on the other hand, didn't fare quite as well in the cup in midweek. Mikel Arteta fielded a fairly strongly team against West Ham, although several first-teamers started on the bench (Saka, Saliba, Odegaard, Martinelli, Rice). By the time they came on in the second half, it was already too late, with The Hammers running out 3-1 victors. 

What happened in Newcastle's last game?

Well, it was a memorable one. 

I don't think it's too controversial to say Manchester United aren't the force they once were but a 3-0 win at Old Trafford is good going nevertheless. Miguel Almirón, Lewis Hall and Joe Willock struck to down the Red Devils and send the Magpies to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.

Considering Newcastle haven't lifted a major trophy since 1955, winning it would be a pretty big deal. They face Chelsea in the last eight. 

St James' Park: one of England's best atmospheres?

St James' Park is the scene for today's clash and is often praised for its atmosphere. Newcastle is a big, one-club city and the club's fans have been starved of success, desperate as they are for it to happen.

Although good times could be just around the corner (chiefly thanks to Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund...they have their fingers in a lot of pies at the moment). 

Ben White and Eddie Nketiah's 100th games for Arsenal*

Celebration time (before the game, at least) for the Arsenal duo. 

Defender White joined the Gunners from Brighton in 2021 and has starred at both right-back, where he'll start today, and in central defence. Academy product Nketiah, meanwhile, has mostly been used as a sub but has still managed 37 goals in 146 appearances in all competitions. 

*This will be White's 100th game all told and Nketiah's 100th Premier League game. 

Arsenal: last five games

1 November: West Ham 3-1 Arsenal (Carabao Cup)

28 October: Arsenal 5-0 Sheffield United (Premier League)

24 October: Sevilla 1-2 Arsenal (Champions League)

21 October: Chelsea 2-2 Arsenal (Premier League)

8 October: Arsenal 1-0 Manchester City (Premier League)

Newcastle United: last five games

1 November: Manchester United 0-3 Newcastle (Carabao Cup)

28 October: Wolves 2-2 Newcastle (Premier League)

25 October: Newcastle 0-1 Dortmund (Champions League)

21 October: Newcastle 4-0 Crystal Palace (Premier League)

8 October: West Ham 2-2 Newcastle (Premier League)

Arsenal: the 2023-24 Premier League season so far

As I mentioned earlier, the Gunners will feel a bit bemused not to be higher than third after winning seven and drawing three of their first 10 Premier League fixtures. It looked as if their unbeaten streak would end at eight games when they fell 2-0 down to Chelsea, but a late rally allowed them to rescue a point at Stamford Bridge. Arteta's side memorably defeated defending champions Manchester City in early-October, which was probably a good thing for anyone other than a City fan. 

The Gunners have made a decent start to their first Champions League campaign in seven seasons, taking six points from nine in three group matches, although they were eliminated from the Carabao Cup at the last 16-stage by West Ham in midweek. 

Martin Odegaard injury update

Straight and to the point from Arsenal. No point beating around the bush. 

Arsenal team to play Newcastle: Odegaard absent

Remember what I said just a few minutes ago about Martin Odegaard? Yeh, well, forget it! The Norwegian isn't even on the bench this time, presumably still struggling with his hip (more on that as I get it). 

Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu; Rice, Jorginho, Havertz; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli. 

Newcastle team to play Arsenal

No real surprises in the Newcastle line-up.

The one thing that did catch my eye, though, is that Jacob Murphy has been deemed fit enough for a place on the bench, in the end. 

Pope; Trippier, Lascelles, Schär, Burn; Guimarães, Longstaff, Joelinton; Almirón, Wilson, Gordon. 

Newcastle United: the 2023-24 Premier League season so far

After a sticky start, in which Newcastle lost three of their first four league games (two to Manchester City and Liverpool, admittedly), the Magpies have recaptured the form that secured Champions League qualification last year. Eddie Howe's men are unbeaten in six Premier League matches, posting 8-0 (EIGHT-NIL) and 4-0 wins in that run. 

They've also made it through to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup (more on that later) and are in with a fighting chance of reaching the Champions League knockout stage after four points from their opening three group-stage games. 

The Gunners in Toon

Is that the prospect of rain in the north east of England? Surely not? 

Blues skies also trying to peep through, it seems (in November? What's going on there?).

Newcastle raring to go at St James' Park!

It's so unfair having to go to work on a Saturday, isn't it? My heart bleeds for them, it really does. 

Early Arsenal team news: Odegaard expected to return

Gunners skipper Martin Odegaard is usually one of the first names on the team sheet, which hasn't been the case in the last two matches. The Norwegian was an unused substitute in last weekend's thrashing of Sheffield United and only played a few minutes of the League Cup loss to West Ham in midweek (scoring a late consolation goal). 

He is now said to be over the worst of a hip problem, though, and should return to the team at St James' Park. 

Early Arsenal team news: Jesus, Partey and Smith-Rowe injured

Striker Gabriel Jesus hasn't had much luck with injuries of late and is again set for a spell on the sidelines after limping off in the Champions League win over Sevilla. Mikel Arteta confirmed playmaker Emile Smith-Rowe was also set "for weeks" out, like midfielder Thomas Partey. 

Long-term injury victim Jurrien Timber remains on the sidelines too. 

Early Newcastle team news: Tonali suspended for 10 months

The hosts will, of course, also be without summer signing Sandro Tonali, who is serving a 10-month ban from the sport after the Italian Soccer Federation found he had bet on Brescia and AC Milan matches while he was playing for them. 

The English Football Association is currently carrying out its own internal investigation to see if Tonali continued betting on soccer, which players aren't permitted to do, after his move to Newcastle. 

Early Newcastle team news: Alexander Isak on lengthy absentee list

The Newcastle treatment room has been busy of late, with striker Alexander Isak one of the more recent admissions. Defenders Sven Botman and Matt Targett, midfielders Jacob Murphy and Elliot Anderson, and winger Harvey Barnes are also expected to be absent. 

What time does Newcastle United vs Arsenal kick-off?

The clash at in the north east of England gets underway at 5:30 p.m. local time, which makes it 1:30 p.m. ET and 10:30 a.m. PT. Nothing quite like a Premier League lunch or brunch, depending where you are. 

Over the next 90 minutes or so I’ll be bringing you build-up, team news and plenty more. Let's do this!

How the Premier League table looks: Newcastle

Newcastle hit the headlines last season by beating the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs to a Champions League place (what a Saudi state-backed fairytale, eh?). That will again be their target this year but they've already given themselves plenty of work to do, with Jürgen Klopp's team, currently fourth, six points ahead of the Magpies. 

How the Premier League table looks: Arsenal

Frustratingly for Arsenal, seven wins and three draws from 10 Premier League games is only good enough for third at the moment, although Manchester City have played a game more (which they are playing right now, in fact). Pep Guardiola's are 3-0 up at home to Bournemouth, who will just be looking to keep the score down in the second half. 

A win at St James' Park and they'll join City on 27 points before Spurs face Chelsea on Monday. 

Hello and welcome to Newcastle United vs Arsenal!

Remember when Arsenal won the Premier League without losing a game (in 2003-04, showing my age...)? Well, we're 10 games into the season and Mikel Arteta's team have yet to taste defeat. Could they do it again?

Probably not, let's be honest, and today's clash away to Newcastle is likely to be one of their toughest tests of the campaign (I'll come back to this opening post once the game is over). 

I'm Roddy and thanks for joining me for this one, which should be a cracker at St James' Park.