Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal: Player ratings as Isak header downs woeful Gunners

Arsenal extended their winless run in the Premier League to three games as they were beaten 1-0 by Newcastle on Saturday afternoon.

In a first-half bereft of quality, Newcastle produced one moment which saw them take a 14th-minute lead. Anthony Gordon, astutely deployed on his 'natural' flank by Eddie Howe, whipped a wicked cross from the right onto the head of Alexander Isak, with the Swede directing his effort beyond David Raya.

With the hosts ahead, the contest turned into a stop-start and scrappy affair with clear-cut chances failing to arrive at either end. Mikel Merino came the closest for the Gunners, but his strike after pouncing on the second ball from a set-piece was blocked by Lewis Hall.

The boss failed to change tack at half-time, but a sluggish start to the second period forced him into action as 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri entered the fray on the hour.

Despite the teenager's introduction, Arsenal continued to struggle and Newcastle only grew in confidence as they expertly resisted their opponents. This was a woeful showing from the Gunners, with Arteta outmanouvred by opposite number Eddie Howe. While Declan Rice should've equalised late on with a close range header, Arsenal really didn't deserve anything on Tyneside.

Here are the Arsenal player ratings from a concerning defeat.

Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal player ratings

Goalkeeper & Defenders

David Raya (GK) - 6.5/10 - Not much he could do to deny Isak's opener and was fine overall. Safe hands, efficient distribution and made a couple of simple stops.

Thomas Partey (RB) - 6/10 - Not quite as imperious as he was last Sunday, although Newcastle didn't aim to target him one-v-one. Looked assured when he ventured into midfield, but struggled to deliver any sort of incision.

William Saliba (CB) - 5.5/10 - Took a while to settle into this one, with Saliba making a couple of noticeable defensive errors and his aerial vulnerabilities came to the the fore.

Gabriel (CB) - 5.5/10 - Fit enough to start, but was beaten early on by Gordon's superb delivery which brushed the centre-back's head before reaching Isak. Didn't appear his assertive self on Tyneside.

Jurrien Timber (LB) - 5/10 - Would eventually occupy both flanks after Arteta's double change on the hour, with Timber producing a fairly indifferent display down the left. Wasn't particularly involved in any phase. Could he have done more to deny Gordon's cross?

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