The primary reason Newcastle United defeated Arsenal is that they were “dragged into” the game, as Mikel Arteta has revealed.Mikel Arteta is of the
Mikel Arteta expressed his belief that his team was “dragged into” Newcastle United’s strategy during their match at St James’ Park, which Arsenal lost 1-0 due to a goal from Alexander Isak just 12 minutes in. This marked Arteta’s third defeat in four visits to Newcastle. Despite Arsenal controlling possession, they struggled to challenge goalkeeper Nick Pope, mainly relying on set-pieces to create chances.
In a more restrained post-match press conference compared to last season’s, Arteta labeled the decision to award Anthony Gordon’s winning goal a “disgrace” and felt his team was forced into Newcastle’s game style throughout the match. He noted, “We started strong and seemed well-organized, but the game shifted dramatically due to a brilliant cross and finish.” He acknowledged the risk of getting caught in Newcastle’s approach, saying they weren’t sharp enough and credited Newcastle for their performance.
Arteta pointed out that Arsenal lacked urgency and threat after going behind, allowing Newcastle to launch attacks and committing numerous fouls, which disrupted their play. This loss marked Arsenal’s third in the Premier League this season, leaving them winless in their last three matches, following a defeat to Bournemouth and a draw with Liverpool. Meanwhile, Newcastle has closed the gap to just three points behind Arsenal, heading into their upcoming match against Nottingham Forest.
