Newcastle United 0-1 Arsenal: Five talking points

Arsenal, let’s just say “laboured” to all three points today away to Newcastle. An own goal from Newcastle captain Fabricio Coloccini was what it took to separate the sides at the end on 90 minutes. St. James’ Park has always been a happy hunting ground for the Gunners and today’s win stretched an undefeated streak at the stadium to more than a decade .The match was at Arsenal’s mercy right after 15 minutes when Andre Marriner decided to show Aleksander Mitrovic a straight red for a high tackle on Francis Coquelin. A decision, that came under some scrutiny on closer review but it stood nonetheless. However, none of the Gunner faithful would be too happy with the performance as, despite the great result, the lack of goals again highlighted the Gunner's lack of cutting edge in the final third.

#1 Arsenal need to hang on

Arsenal were the best team in the second half of the season last time around and yet finished third come the end of the season. This time around, Arsenal are supposedly title contenders but are not really playing like it.

If last week’s draw against Liverpool jolted their belief, this game certainly didn’t do much to inspire any confidence amongst their fans. 90 minutes at St. James’ was like an Arsenal training drill with Newcastle reduced to ten early on. However, the Gunners failed to mount any sustained period of pressure on the Magpies The own goal that they eventually scored via a deflection from Coloccini rescued a result for them so they can focus on improving.

The only silver lining that Arsenal can really take from the early kick-off today is the result. Win they did and ugly, it certainly was. All back at North London would be hoping that the ugly duckling at the moment really turns out to be a swan in the recent future. They certainly don’t need another uphill chase like last time. And if they play at the tempo and the level, another uphill is all that’s going to be left.

#2 Hope for Newcastle despite poor start

This game was a refreshing change for the Newcastle fans. During their disastrous second-half of the season under John Carver, one of the major complaints from the Newcastle fans was that the players didn’t really give their all on the field or cared. Well, none could really have a quip about that this afternoon.

The team never gave in for a moment. Everyone seemed determined to put in a shift. Even after going down to ten, their effort was not something anyone could quibble about for the rest of the game. In fact, the ten men in black and white seemed to have become even more resilient following Mitrovic's dismissal after allowing Arsenal a few tentative openings in the opening fifteen minutes of the game.

This was a game, where not many players except Aleksander Mitrovic could be pointed to by Newcastle fans for making a mistake but this was just not their day. The Magpies have two points from four games. Yet, at the end of the game, the players went off the field to a rousing reception.

But, they should certainly hope for better returns from the team after coming back from the international break. With Wijnadlum impressing again, Thauvin having made a great impact already in the League Cup, the shaky defence showing signs of life again and a better fixture list coming McClaren should be hopeful to lead Newcastle to their first Premier League under him in the coming days.

#3 Arsenal need a better striker

Arsene Wenger made the big call today by dropping Olivier Giroud in favour of Theo Walcott after failing to score in two of their first three games. The idea was, of course, to rev up the tempo of their play going forward, but what ensued in the following ninety minutes will have the Arsenal fans going bonkers heading into the final days of the transfer window.

Though Walcott looked sharp early on, forcing Tim Krul off his line for an excellent early save. However, his main strength of getting in behind the last defender using his fearsome pace was made redundant after the dismissal of Newcastle’s Serbian striker early on as the Magpies settled deep in their own half. If this wasn’t enough to curtail his prowess, his woeful miss from a rebound after Tim Krul had parried Alexis Sanchez’s long range effort early in the first half had the Gunners facepalming themselves.

Oliver Giroud’s replacement of the oft-absent Theo Walcott didn’t really pep up the occasion.

Neither Giroud nor Walcott’s performance did anything to quell the Arsenal fans’ demand for a “world class” forward to be brought in at the Emirates. Danny Welbeck should be back into the fold after the international break, but the want for a striker tagged "world class” will go on.

#4 Mitrovic needs to calm down

Four games, two starts, zero shots on target, two yellows and a red. That’s what Aleksander Mitrovic’s stats read at the moment. For Steve McClaren that’s not the type of impact that you would be wishing to get from the big Serbian.

Newcastle and Mike Ashley let their purse strings loose this summer. They have spent near to £50 million on summer acquisitions which include a huge outlay on the Serbian Mitrovic, who ruled the Belgian league with authority last season. The Serbian’s scouting reports certainly suggested that he had “the attitude”. The devil inside the beast of a man has certainly shown through in the opening weeks of the Premier League, but not in the way McClaren and Newcastle fans would have wanted.

This was a game where Newcastle needed all eleven of their players to stay put for a cause. They were resilient, willing and fought with vigour but they were always one man short. That in part was due to the naiveness of their number 45.

While, many might say the red card to be a bit soft, Mitrovic should by now, understand that his reputation precedes him. He shouldn’t have given Andre Marriner the chance to really pull that card out of his back pocket. While his performance at Old Trafford last week suggested that he had the makings of at least a decent centre-forward, he needs to stay on the pitch to do that.

#5 Arsenal denied a solid penalty

The referee denied Hector Bellerin what should have been an obvious penalty as his foray into the danger area was halted by Florian Thauvin treading on the back of his foot. The Spanish full back went down asking for the decision and rightly so but was denied by Andre Marriner.

Arsenal’s past with this particular referee isn’t too great as he was the one who sent off Kieran Gibbs in place of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in a bizarre case of mistaken identity a couple of seasons ago. Though, he was possibly unsighted for the call that he made, it was still one that Arsenal will feel hard done by.

Newcastle fans also might have reason to complain as the challenge that got Mitrovic sent off was not too different from the one made by Sissoko a bit earlier on for which he earned a yellow. The inconsistency in his ruling may draw some ire from the army at the Tyneside.