Sparks flew in the north-east of England on Sunday afternoon as Arsenal made the trip to Newcastle in a clash that had many chances, saves and boiling points for both teams. Early on the away side looked uncomfortable as the home support's hostile environment and their team's press caused for plenty of problems.
Jacob Murphy hit the post in the opening moments before the Magpies were awarded a penalty kick as Jakub Kiwior was adjudged to have handled the ball. On review, the decision was overturned, with VAR showing that the ball had actually struck the defender on the thigh instead.
It was a crucial moment for the north London outfit as they looked to settle themselves into the game, knowing they'd need a win to get back within touching distance of Manchester City in first. It didn't take long after the penalty decision for the tables to turn in favour of the Gunners.
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Martin Odegaard's strike from the edge of the box found the bottom corner to give the side the lead, taking his tally to the season up to 15 goals. It was from there that the game would only get more intense as several chances went begging for both teams that were desperate for a win.
There were some fiesty tackles as a result and the home fans were less than satisfied with the time it took for Arsenal to get the ball in play. At one point, Dan Burn was complaining to the fourth official as Sven Botman and Joelinton had words with the referee, with the flashpoints becoming increased.
It was a frustrating game for those in black and white as those in red looked to manage the game better than they have managed in weeks gone by.
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