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

The implications of this defeat in the North East will not yet be fully known, but they are likely to be painful for Arsenal.

Newcastle hinted at just how tough an afternoon was in store for the Gunners when, in midweek, they comprehensively dumped Chelsea out of the Carabao Cup. Mikel Arteta and his coaching staff may have taken heed, but many of the Arsenal players evidently did not.

Just as happened to Chelsea on Wednesday, the Gunners were outfought on all fronts, dominating possession but far from the game’s dominant team in this 1-0 defeat.

Despite the boost before kick-off that Gabriel had been passed fit from a minor knee injury in order to partner William Saliba, the Arsenal backline were given a more-than-uncomfortable time of things by Anthony Gordon, Joelinton and Alexander Isak, Newcastle’s dynamic front three. Isak was left totally unmarked in the middle to head home Gordon’s inch-perfect cross for the game’s only goal.

Most concerning for Mikel Arteta and his coaching staff was just how long their side had to get back into the game. Isak’s bullet-header came in the 12th minute, and yet Arsenal were devoid of ideas, of attacking ingenuity. Most glaringly, they lacked anything remotely close to a clinical edge. Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka nodded wide from very presentable positions either side of the break, during which time Arteta’s half-time words failed to rouse his slumbering players.

Even though Arsenal’s second defeat of the season was going to arrive eventually, Arteta will be worried at how outplayed his side was. It appeared an admission of failure for how he had set his midfield up that he took Mikel Merino off after 61 minutes. The game had largely been played around the Spaniard on his return to St James’ Park. Arteta used all five of his substitutes, nothing budged the course of the game.

Defeat leaves the Gunners five points behind defending champions and league leaders Manchester City, who face Bournemouth later in the day. It is far from the desirable audition for Wednesday's away game against Inter Milan in the Champions League. And Chelsea follow, next weekend. Martin Odegaard cannot come back soon enough.

It was hard not to wonder whether Arsenal have in fact taken a step backwards from last season, when they lost the title to City by just two points. It had been a genuine title race; Arsenal had been genuine contenders. They are supposed to be contenders this season and had looked like it. This display raises more than a kernel of doubt.