Arsenal 1 Newcastle 0 – Saturday 25 April 2026 5.30pm
Instant fan/writer reaction from some of our regular contributors on The Mag.
Nat Seaton:
‘An improved performance in a game that we didn’t deserve to lose, but we did… again!
Better signs, but still well off where we should be against an average nervous Arsenal team (hard to believe they are sitting top of the League).
Let’s hope for more improvement when we are back at home on Saturday, 3 points against Brighton might just put a smile back on my face.’
Dean Wilkins:
‘A good performance today.
When Arsenal took the lead less than ten minutes in, United could easily have fallen apart.
However, Eddie Howe’s team matched the home side throughout the rest of the match.
It wasn’t a simple chance but Wissa should have volley past Raya from Woltemade’s brilliant through ball.
If he’d scored with just the Arsenal keeper to beat instead of volleying over, then everybody would have been talking about a well deserved point for Newcastle United.’
Billy Miller:
‘I’m fully Howe in but when I saw the line up I couldn’t help wondering if he actually wants to be here anymore.
The performance actually proved me wrong and I felt we deserved something.
How we didn’t work out the Arsenal routine after they tried the same three times in a row baffles me though.
I understand players will be drilled to fulfil certain roles but surely somebody in the ‘leadership team’ needs to intervene and get somebody marking Eze.
That lapse of judgement was the difference.
Wissa had a golden chance when our £125m pair almost combined to level up.
Green shoots performance wise, still no points to show for it.’
David Punton:
‘I didn’t expect to win here but that’s another league defeat we’ve chalked up.
A much better effort from the players but we have been edged out by title chasing Arsenal.’
Greg McPeake:
‘We were the better team for large periods but didn’t have the killer touch.
Wissa got his moment and fluffed it, the guy is garbage and should never wear the shirt again in my opinion. Please Wissa, make me eat my words.
The nervousness of the Arsenal fans and players was so obviously apparent yet we didn’t take advantage of it. Opportunity missed.’
GToon:
‘Decent performance today.
Showed up those “who can” and those “who can’t”.
I don’t think a performance like that will get Eddie the sack but his insistence on playing Pope, the useless Wissa and ultimately the lumbering Botman who has been awful all season and cost us tonight might.
Four games to go of this truly dreadful season.
At least we limited their goal difference.
Be nice to see Alex Murphy get a chance instead of Botman.
We need huge changes this summer. Huge.’
Jamie Smith:
‘A better performance than recent horror shows but still no outcome.
Such a shame as a nervous Arsenal looked very capable of bottling it.
Bruno’s return is most welcome and he and Tonali ran the midfield.
With everyone below us picking up points there’ll be a few hoping this form can be repeated for a result against Brighton before nervous glances over the shoulder start appearing’
Tony Mallabar:
‘As soon as it went 1-0, I might as well have just went back to Millers and waited for my train home.
But tonight, backed by 3000 ferociously vocal Geordies, we gave it a real go.
Would I want us to play like Arsenal tonight and win the League????
Well, yes.
Coming back on the tube cracking on with the Arsenal match-going fans and they are basically the same as us.
A pity Arteta is such a tw.t.’
Arsenal 1 Newcastle 0 – Saturday 25 April 2026 5.30pm
Match Stats
Goals:
Newcastle United:
Arsenal:
Eze 9
Possession was Newcastle 55% Arsenal 45%
Total shots were Newcastle 13 Arsenal 11
Shots on target were Newcastle 3 Arsenal 4
Corners were Newcastle 2 Arsenal 7
Touches in the opposition box Newcastle 19 Arsenal 27
Newcastle team v Arsenal:
Pope, Miley, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Bruno (Woltemade 75), Tonali, Ramsey, Willock (Elanga 86), Jacob Murphy (Barnes 66), Osula (Wissa 66)
Unused subs:
Ramsdale, Trippier, Hall, Alex Murphy, Neave