Newcastle 0-2 Arsenal: Arteta’s side maintain title bid with victory at St James’ Park

It was the award of a Newcastle penalty that tipped this breathtaking game in Arsenal’s favour.

Mikel Arteta’s side gasped for air in the eighth minute as they gave their best impression of Tottenham here two weeks ago. They desperately needed a time-out.

Collecting a penalty probably didn’t feel like the reprieve they craved, but when the decision was reversed, the flow of play changed with it.

From masquerading as Spurs – now there’s an insult – to turning into a team that hasn’t relinquished the title, Arsenal were the deserved winner thanks to Martin Odegaard’s brilliant strike in the first half and an own goal from Fabian Schar midway through the second period .

It keeps them within one point of Manchester City – who have one more game in hand – but given this was the match Arsenal should have lost, the defending champions’ coronation will have to wait.

The way they recovered from Newcastle’s post-kick blitz also showed a resilience that we thought had faded, as had their title hopes. Not so.

Mikel Arteta’s side have recovered from a four-match winless run to beat both Chelsea and Newcastle within a week

Martin Odegaard gave Arsenal a goal lead in the first half and had chances to further extend their lead

The spider ridge above the field needed more than eight legs to keep up early on. It was all a wonderful advertisement for the Premier League, if not for the health of the managers.

Arteta in particular seemed about to explode. Newcastle’s artillery left its players shelled and shaken during a start that saw Messrs Gung and Ho as the first to read names on the home side’s form. In fact, it was Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson who first paired Eddie Howe together.

Jacob Murphy hit the post within 70 seconds, Isak saw a shot on target bounce wide and with only four minutes left on the clock, Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale felt like calling for a truce as he measured a goal kick with every care for putt to win The Masters.

But then came Newcastle’s penalty and with it the laying down of arms that Arsenal so longed for. The two-minute break in which the referees tried to determine whether the ball had hit Jakub Kiwior’s arm, following a shot from Bruno Guimaraes, gave them some oxygen. It was rightly reversed – the ball had hit the defender’s thigh first.

A major turning point in the game appeared to be the VAR turning back a penalty for Jakub Kiwior who handled the ball

Arsenal were just on their feet, not to mention taking their breath away, when Odegaard found the bottom corner from 25 yards out on 14 minutes.

It looked like Newcastle’s defense had a breather too, the way they held off the Norwegian as he drilled low past Nick Pope. It was a nice conclusion, but questions remained about the urgency of the closure. Perhaps also the speed of Pope’s response.

Anyway, the goalkeeper was the only reason his team wasn’t behind four times at half time. Twice Arsenal cut through Newcastle with ease and Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka were denied by Pope’s boot and midriff respectively.

Then, in stoppage time of the first half, Odegaard thought he had his second, only for Pope to intervene once more, blocking a close range steering wheel that seemed destined for the net.

On reflection, 4-0 is a dangerous half-time score for Arsenal here, given the lead they drew 4-4 in 2011.

Pushing for an equalizer, Newcastle got through Fabian Schar’s outstretched leg in what turned out to be a decisive second goal

Eddie Howe’s side now have a battle on their hands in the final games of the season to secure Champions League qualification

The result will keep Arsenal in the title chase and their post-match celebrations will be just as well represented

Arsenal defended resolutely as they secured a crucial 2-0 victory and a rare clean sheet for a top tier side

But Newcastle couldn’t concede even one goal this time. They played well enough – Isak headed the post, Ramsdale made a fabulous save from Schar’s six-yard header and Granit Xhaka blocked from Joe Willock into the goal mouth.

The result was anything but safe in the 71st minute when Martinelli was carried into the penalty area – the defense was poor – and his cross ricocheted off Schar’s tired leg and under Pope.

Arsenal were defeated 2-0 here last May and thus lost the top four to the Spurs. The direction of travel for those North London rivals over the next 12 months couldn’t have been more different.

They may not win the league, but they will take City to the telegraph. One misstep and the champions could fall off.