Alexander Isak has had loads of centre-backs “on toast” this season. It’s why he’s scored 19 targets and has had a £150m price ticket slapped on his head by Newcastle amid curiosity from The Greater Boys, together with Arsenal.

However we weren’t anticipating William Saliba’s pants to be pulled down fairly so roughly and repeatedly by the in-demand goalscorer on Wednesday, in a recreation to completely illustrate simply how a lot Arsenal may do with a participant of his enviable qualities but additionally steered Isak could already be past their attain within the switch market.

Arsenal had honest warning. Isak had already smashed his first probability into the roof of the web having dashed in behind the defence to latch onto an Anthony Gordon by ball, with the aim dominated out for a marginal offside, earlier than the identical pair mixed to open the scoring.

It was a vital minute within the recreation. Martin Odegaard was simply beginning to assert his dominance after a manic first quarter-hour through which Arsenal heads have been spinning in an already fervent ambiance additional buoyed by the clear menace that Isak and Gordon have been providing.

And the Gunners captain ought to have put his aspect within the lead, slicing a shot because the ball fell kindly to him within the field. Six touches after the ensuing aim kick and Newcastle have been forward by a aim displaying their particular person high quality and excellent effectivity.

Saliba made a mistake he didn’t get better from. So used to bullying strikers together with Gabriel, he bought a style of his personal drugs, in what was his worst ever recreation for Arsenal. He was everywhere.

He bought in entrance of Isak as Martin Dubravka went lengthy however the striker caught out a toe to nick it in entrance of him, spun in behind and bought the ball again from Gordon earlier than smashing a curling shot past David Raya and onto the publish, with Jacob Murphy following in to complete.

Saliba was booked simply earlier than half-time as he was caught out by a easy ball excessive and pulled Gordon again, and he continued to deteriorate as the sport wore on to the purpose the place he may barely management the ball or make any choice that wasn’t to the detriment of his staff.

Gordon ought to have doubled Newcastle’s lead shortly after the break as Saliba dallied inexplicably beneath stress, however selected to shoot from distance with Raya out of his aim having pinched the ball from the Arsenal defender, quite than dribbling nearer to the goal. Three minutes later he did get his aim, as a substitute preying on a Raya error.

The goalkeeper performed that horrible brief cross into midfield that he and all of his counterparts seem obsessive about however trigger these of us watching to grimace in anticipation of the worst case state of affairs, which appears to occur sufficient to make that cross redundant regardless of their persistence, and the worst did certainly occur on this event.

We weren’t shocked to see Declan Rice crushed to the ball by a Newcastle presser in that place, however have been shocked to notice that it was centre-back Fabian Schar difficult him on the sting of the 18-yard field.

His sensible deal with fell to Gordon, who handed the ball into the nook to safe a really, very snug victory for Newcastle. Arsenal completed the sport with 68 per cent possession, however the house aspect have been in full management all through.

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The speak from Gary Neville on commentary as the sport drifted right into a sample of Newcastle absorbing nothing assaults from Arsenal inevitably led to the Gunners’ “toothless” forwards compared to Newcastle’s indomitable striker and his formidable stooge on the wing.

And also you’ve bought to wonder if the Arsenal chiefs could have tried tougher to herald a extra prolific ahead earlier than the switch window closed if this recreation had been performed on Sunday as a substitute of the 5-1 hammering of Manchester Metropolis.

We’ll by no means know, however after such an enormous excessive through which Arsenal’s title hopes have been boosted, this recreation introduced them crashing again right down to earth in dramatic style, not simply as they’ve been denied the prospect of a really welcome trophy after four-and-a-half years with out one, but additionally due to how fleeting the suggestion that they could be alright and not using a new centre-forward has confirmed to be.

As soon as once more the narrative shall be that they’ll by no means win something whereas Kai Havertz leads the road, with this defeat the nightmare state of affairs for him, Arteta and the membership bosses, who once more rested on their laurels quite than making hay whereas the solar shines, or quite shone.

Isak could be excellent, however they should break the British switch report after which some to land him, together with his stage now such that departure from Newcastle when it comes shall be to an actual European large, quite than to a membership that we will depend on to fluff probabilities each on and off the pitch to show they’re worthy of that label.