Arteta must look inward rather than toward referees to steer Gunners back on track 

NOT A HAPPY CAMPER: Arsenal Manager, Mikel Arteta, reacts during the Premier League match at St. James' Park. Pic: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire.

NEWCASTLE UNITED 1-0 ARSENAL 

ARSENAL need their manager, Mikel Arteta, to question himself and not sub-standard referees if he is to get their season back on track this week. 

They lost their unbeaten start to the new season from Newcastle's only shot on target, but created only two themselves despite being the better team. 

It was always a 'first goal wins it' match, so they have little to complain about the score.

Sevilla are in north London for Champions League tie on Wednesday night and Burnley follow at the weekend. Neither opponents are world beaters and Arteta must find a way to win both - injury problems or not.

Anthony Gordon's controversial 64th-minute winner has been analysed to within an inch of its life and anyone outside Newcastle (and laughing local rivals Tottenham), will likely claim it should not have stood. 

Arsenal were fortunate to not have had Kai Havertz sent off and Bruno Guimaraes could have seen red twice for Eddie Howe's side too. Referee Stuart Attwell had a shocker and so did VAR. No change there in the Premier League.

The problem for Arteta is that things HAVE changed at Arsenal and not for the better.

The last two seasons have featured faltering moments like this when his team has been missing key players at the end of the campaign. This season it is happening at the start – even though he has spent a fortune to bolster his squad. 

Midfield recruit Havertz has added nothing and goalkeeper David Raya was as much at fault for the goal as the officials. And not for the first time since he replaced the previously solid Aaron Ramsdale.

He did not address his own shortcomings for the goal afterwards, but at least he was man enough to front up.

The Spanish keeper said: “My view from the pitch is that the ball went out and then looking at it back it was a big foul on Gabby (Gabriel Magalhaes) – two arms and a push on his back as he went to clear the ball. It is frustrating that the ref did not go to look at it. The offside was hard to see but the ball out of play and the foul are massive decisions that costs us.

“Other than that we played very well and did not allow them another shot on target. We were winning our duels but it is a very frustrating result.

“To lose for the first time means we have to start winning games again. Our immediate focus is Sevilla at home on Wednesday, another massive game for us, and then we have to go on a long unbeaten run in the Premier League.” 

Howe, meanwhile, is working miracles with an injury-ravaged squad, tapping into an inspirational underdog mentality. This narrow victory followed directly from three unanswered goals in the League Cup at Manchester United last Wednesday. 

The very same night Arteta's men limped out of the same competition against an average West Ham.

Brazil midfielder Joelinton personified their hard-working defensive mindset, celebrating winning tackles in the middle of the pitch like a goal when his side were hanging on at times.

He said: “We played and defended really well. We had one chance and we scored. The attitude was right throughout the match. Arsenal is a very good team and we had to defend well to keep a clean sheet to give ourselves a chance to win. We have shown this character before, Everyone in the team is in the same place. We all fight together.

“Unbeaten in seven matches is important and gives us confidence to keep going. There have been a lot of players injured but we are showing the strength of the group in games every few days and keep fighting.

“It shows the quality of the team and how everyone one wants to play to help the team. Five clean sheets in a row at home shows how we do not want to concede and we have improved our mindset from how we started the season when we conceded a lot of goals. Dortmund away next in the Champions League and I can't wait. It is a massive game for us.” 

The final word goes to goalscorer Gordon, who indirectly highlighted that Newcastle will be further tested in matches they are expected to win later in the season.

He commented: “We have got through some really difficult fixtures with players struggling and out through injury and we all stuck together. It is sometimes better to win with an underdog mentality. We might be shattered but the feeling at the end is worth it.

“There are so many good teams up there this season and any team can beat each other. The week was amazing. To win at Old Trafford and then beat an unbeaten Arsenal without conceding a gaol has been amazing. Our defence needs a lot of praise and attention.” 

Newcastle: Pope 7, Burn 5 (Livramento 46), Schar 6, Lascelles 7, Trippier 6, Longstaff 6, Guimaraes 5, Joelinton 7, Almiron 6 (Murphy 62, Ritchie 79) , Wilson 5 (Willock 62), Gordon 8.

Arsenal: Raya 4, Tomiyasu 6, Gabriel 6, Saliba 7, White 6 (Zinchenko 73), Havertz 6, Jorginho 6 (Vieira 79), Rice 7, Saka 6, Nketiah 5 (Trossard 79) , Martinelli 6.

Referee: Stuart Attwell 3 

Attendance: 52,914