Positives & negatives from Arsenal's 1-0 win vs. Newcastle

Negative #1: Newcastle's midfield outclassed Arsenal

The Gunners edged possession to the tune of 51.7 percent, but Newcastle made slicker and smarter use of the ball. There was more style to how the visitors played because their midfield and forward lines combined in creative ways.

One of the best examples led to a chance for the best midfielder on the pitch, Bruno Guimaraes. The Brazilian ran off the back of a smart ball played into Isak's replacement Callum Wilson by Sandro Tonali.

Wilson's clever back-heel allowed Guimaraes to turn a shot toward goal that prompted a fine two-part save from David Raya. The move was one of the better exchanges in the game and a good example of how swiftly and artfully Newcastle moved the ball.

Quick one- and two-touch passing had the home side chasing shadows at times. Like when Tonali, Guimaraes and substitute William Osula used nifty touches to fashion a chance Harvey Barnes ballooned over the bar.

There was also more fluid movement between the lines from Newcastle. Wingers shifted infield, while central midfielders made smart and decisive overlapping runs.

Arsenal couldn't compete with the imagination and technique posed by the Magpies because the hosts' own creative department is one man on an island. It's a familiar and depressing story.

Positive #2: Odegaard's revival continues

Rice's efforts were matched by the quick wits of Odegaard. Lambasted too often in recent weeks, Odegaard has been showing signs of rediscovering his best form. The revival continued, even against the craft of Guimaraes and Tonali's running power.

If Rice had his sights aligned from distance, Odegaard was close to unerring with his distribution. Technique is what sets Odegaard apart, and the man with the armband stayed neat and decisive with the ball.

Odegaard's challenge was to exploit any gaps between the rugged and industrious Newcastle midfield. He answered the call with some deft connections with Bukayo Saka, but saved his most telling pass for Rice.

It was played on instinct, a nice reverse ball perfectly timed and impeccably weighted. In other words, something typical of the quality Odegaard is capable of when at his best.

So was the deft pass to send right-back Ben White clear to flash a shot inches wide of Nick Pope's far post. Odegaard got the pace and the weight just right with a calm nudge via the outside of his foot, a pass that deserved a better finish.

If Saka is still Arsenal's most gifted player, Rice is the most important and Odegaard is the most overworked. The question remains, as it always seems to, how do Arsenal get the best from Odegaard more often?

Does it come from adding another No. 10 type to share the creative burden? Or by dropping Odegaard deeper and having him become a two-footed conductor in the manner of Santi Cazorla?

My vote would be to keep Odegaard near the top end of the pitch, but bracket him with superior talent. That means finding the right finisher to play ahead of him and convert the chances Odegaard creates.

It also means having a superior distributor get Odegaard the ball from deep. One of the tasks the incoming Martin Zubimendi is being signed to perform.

Negative #2: Arsenal's striker shortage

Havertz was missed during a lengthy injury layoff, but even his return couldn't shift the conversation from Arteta's so far fruitless search for more cutting edge. The manager has placed his trust in anything but striker types including Havertz, winger Leandro Trossard and converted central midfielder Mikel Merino.

Some of those stand-ins have performed well on occasion, with Havertz the closest to an actual No. 9. The problem is there's no substitute for a true 9 able to link play, bring others into the mix and score every type of goal.

Everybody wants one of those, but few teams need a striker as much as this Arsenal side. Arteta's go-to brand of football is based on strength, defensive discipline and efficiency in the final third.

The formula doesn't work without a ruthless presence at the tip of the team. Finding one will define this summer, next season and beyond for Arsenal and the Arteta era.

READ THE LATEST ARSENAL NEWS HERE!