Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Football London
Football London
Sport
Kaya Kaynak

Odegaard's message to Isak, Saka's extra treatment - Arsenal moments missed vs Newcastle

Arsenal kept their Premier League title hopes alive with a mature 2-0 victory over Newcastle at St. James' Park. The game got off to a rocky start when Jacob Murphy hit the post inside a minute and the hosts thought they had a penalty for a handball by Jakub Kiwior before VAR intervened.

The Gunners weathered the early storm though and came back into the game before Martin Odegaard hammered them in front from the edge of the box. It could have been several more before half time, but Newcastle fought back after the break and forced Aaron Ramsdale into some sublime saves.

Arsenal again held firm under the Geordie pressure and struck a second when Fabian Schar could only turn Gabriel Martinelli's cross into his own net. It's a result that reduces Manchester City's lead at the top of the Premier League to just one point and ensures that the Gunners will keep fighting on as long as possible. Here football.london takes a look back at the moments you may have missed from the game.

READ MORE: Arsenal permutations vs Newcastle with £41.8m incentive and worst-case Premier League scenario

Odegaard and Isak embrace

Probably the two most in-form players going into this match on either side were Martin Odegaard and Alexander Isak. The Norwegian has been on fire for Arsenal this season and now has 15 goals this season. Isak meanwhile has been turning heads with his form for Newcastle.

In another world, they might have been teammates for Arsenal had Isak joined last January. They have however, already played together at Real Sociedad. Before the game, the pair embraced to wish each other well as a sign that there's still some love there between them.

White back at it with the housery

Ben White has established himself as something of a master of the dark arts. Despite his choirboy looks the England international is not afraid to get down and dirty if needs be.

That happened here again. As Joe Willock rushed to kick a ball that had rolled back onto the pitch out of play so that Arsenal could take a throw in, the customary thing to do would have been to wait for him to resume his position. White wasn't in the mood to show any favour to his former teammate though, and threw the ball straight into the space he had vacated. Luckily for Newcastle referee Chris Kavanaugh ordered that the throw in had to be retaken before Arsenal could exploit the space.

Saka needs help handling the pain

Seeing Bukayo Saka on the end of a meaty challenge or two is nothing new for Arsenal, but seeing him stay down in pain certainly is. The England international is normally so resilient but even he struggled to get up after having his Achilles trodden on by Bruno Guimaraes.

Saka was writing around in pain on the floor for some time and even after getting back up to his feet he struggled. The 21-year-old had to come over to club doctor Gary O'Driscoll to receive a few pain meds just before the stroke of half time.

READ NEXT:

Arsenal line-ups vs Newcastle as Gabriel starts, Saka replaced as Tierney and Martinelli return

Ilkay Gundogan puts Man City on the brink and sets Arsenal target in Premier League title race

Charlie Patino, Marquinhos and the Arsenal players set to bid farewell as loan deals expire

Mikel Arteta makes Newcastle error as Arsenal lesson must be learned to keep title dream alive

Trent Alexander-Arnold predicts Premier League title winner with brutal message to Arsenal

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.