Alexander Isak’s bullet header was enough to win it but here it felt like the return of the Eddie Howe team that fans had grown to love. For some reason, that in your face style had slipped away but in what has been a huge week at St James’ Park, like Chelsea, Arsenal were sent back to the Smoke having been outfought and outthought.
Mikel Arteta’s team had arrived at St James’ Park intending to ruffle the feathers of the Magpies, starting by turning United around at kick off when making them shoot towards the Gallowgate End in the first half. But like many of their other belated Halloween tricks, it would backfire in spectacular fashion.
Newcastle players dropped down for impromptu treatment when Arsenal were trying to rediscover some rhythm and flow to their game while United stars themselves intelligently won free-kicks at key times.
Arsenal had the game’s first shot of any note on two minutes Leandro Trossard got free on the left-hand side of the box but his shot zipped well wide. On 10 minutes Bakayo Saka had a glimpse of goal but rolled it well wide of Nick Pope’s left-hand post.
