Eddie Howe said:

"A big three points for us. A brilliant battling performance from the players who gave absolutely everything under fatigue. They deserve all the praise. It was a tough game. Massive win. 

"Maybe not the game we expected it to be in terms of style from both teams. The midfield battle was important, we had to try and stay in the game in that way. Joelinton was huge and all three midfielders really helped us.

"When you don't concede you're always in a game. It wasn't the game we prepared for but you have to show different sides of your game to win and I think we have that in the group at the moment."

On the VAR episode:

"We're in the dark, we're stood by the side of the pitch seeing VAR on the screen but with no pictures. I haven't seen anything other than what I saw at the time. It looked a good goal to me.

"With every VAR check that was going on we thought one could cost us in the end. Initially I thought it was a good goal but I saw hesitation from the referee. Obviously pleased the goal was given, a good goal from our perspective."

On the Kai Havertz challenge that floored Sean Longstaff:

"I thought there were too many yellow cards in the game. I don't think the discipline in the game was a problem until the tackle from Havertz. I was close to it and had a good view and thought it was dangerously high."

On Tino Livramento:

"He did very well. It wasn't an easy game to come into - very transitional in that moment and he was up against a very good opponent in Martinelli, who was very dangerous and he stuck to his task defensively really well."

On goalscorer Anthony Gordon: 

"He's got used to what's expected of him. He had sight of it at the end of last season, he came back fitter from the Euros which was successful for him. 

"That helped his confidence and he's been brilliant for us this season. And he's shown versatility."

On Matt Ritchie, who made his 200th appearance for the club:

"I can't speak highly enough of him. He trains brilliantly and works incredibly hard on his game still. He's a real leader in the dressing room - you can't underestimate how important his positivity and drive is."

Embarrassing...disgrace...you should be ashamed.
But enough about him....

Mikel Arteta belly-ached:

"I have to be here now to say it is not acceptable. We didn't deserve to lose the match. We lose the match because of the clear and obvious decisions. It's embarrassing. A disgrace. That's what it is - a disgrace. You cannot imagine the amount of messages I got saying this cannot continue. I am wasting my time. We are wasting our time. 

"The outcome is nowhere near the level this league needs to have. It's not good enough. I feel embarrassed to be part of this. We have to talk about the result because you have to talk about how they help these goals stand up, and it's incredible. 

"I feel embarrassed. But I have to be the one now coming here to try to defend the club and please ask for help because it’s an absolute disgrace that this goal is allowed, it’s an absolute disgrace because it’s not a goal, 

"For many reasons it’s not a goal, for more than one reason at least it’s not a goal. And there’s too much at stake here, we put in so much effort, and it's so difficult to compete at this level. And it's an absolute disgrace. 

"Again, I feel embarrassed, I've be more than 20 years in this country, and this is nowhere near the level to describe this as the best league in the world. I am sorry.

"That makes it even worse, makes it look even worse, it makes it even worse. You just need to see one image, that’s what you need, and you have any doubt you look at the second one. And if this is a goal, okay, that's fine. I don’t care honestly, I don’t care what they say. It’s the outcome. It's too late, whatever they say is too late. I don't want to be in the hands of people.

"The question is it’s not a goal it’s simple it’s not a goal. Simple. For a goal to be allowed there are certain things prior to that, that the ball hitting one metre from the goal that are not allowed in football, in football in here in China, in Japan, in Spain, in Italy, and in Portugal, they are not allowed. That's what happens.

"I have to praise the players the way they play here, and what they did and how much they limited Newcastle to what they did and how much we tried. It's incredible."

Arsenal's unbeaten start to the Premier League season was ended on Saturday by a tenacious Toon display and a goal from Anthony Gordon that survived an unprecedented three VAR checks.

A fiercely contested game was decided in the 64th minute when ex-Gunner Joe Willock kept the ball in play by the left hand corner flag, crossing for Gordon to fire in from two yards out after David Raya flapped at the centre and Joelinton got the better of Gabriel to return it.

Celebrations subsided as it became evident that bungling referee Stuart Attwell was consulting with VAR official Andy Madley as to the legitimacy of the goal - a trio of inspections belatedly establishing that the ball didn't go out of play, there was no foul and no home player was offside. 

It took over four minutes to establish that there was nothing to prevent the goal standing, by which time we were speculating whether the length of the SJP grass or the tread on the tyres of the new team coach would also undergo compliance checks before a final decision was arrived at.

Reviews of the incidents highlighted that Joelinton leaning on Gabriel was the most questionable but not clear and obvious enough to alter the on-field call. The chorus of "same old Arsenal, always cheating" that rang out summed up the home crowd's reaction to blatant simulation though - Gabriel's case perhaps weakened by previous tumbles by his colleagues. 

Gordon struck just seconds after moving to centre forward following the substitution of Callum Wilson that had brought Willock into the action. Also arriving then was Jacob Murphy, whose ball across Arsenal's six yard box was a lost cause that Willock just didn't give up. 

It's 1932 all over again (if you know your history)

Sadly, Murphy's unexpected return from a shoulder injury proved to be short-lived, forced off with what looked to be a reoccurrence of the same ailment. That was the second enforced change of the game for Eddie Howe, who had sent out the same line-up that began the 2-2 draw at Wolves.

Dan Burn struggled in the latter stages of the first half with a back problem and failed to return after the break, Valentino Liveramento coming on at right back with Kieran Trippier switching to the left.

Lucky to play on unscathed was Sean Longstaff; the victim of a crude two-footed challenge by Kai Havertz - the fallout of which saw hapless whistler Attwell yellow-card Gordon, Longstaff and Schar as they rightly highlighted the shortcomings of the officials. Havertz had history with us from his Chelsea days, escaping with a booking after elbowing Burn at Stamford Bridge in March 2022. 

It was a case of dishonours even before half time however, Bruno escaping punishment for what appeared to be an elbow deliberately aimed at Jorginho's head. He would later be booked and will miss Saturday's visit to Bournemouth as a result.

Going 1-0 up saw United slacken off a pressing game that had never allowed the visitors time on the ball anywhere, but defend in depth and stand firm against a series of free kicks and corners. Given that Jamaal Lascelles looked to be hobbling at one point early in the second half, his contribution was nothing short of outstanding - and he like his colleagues remained disciplined inside their own area to reduce the chances of a levelling decision from Attwell & Co.

The desire to win was amply illustrated by Joelinton's challenge during eight minutes of added time that prompting a standing ovation from home followers.

Another famous win then - only a second in twelve attempts over Arsenal - and a fitting way for Howe to mark two years since agreeing to take charge here.

Quite what is left in the collective tank for Dortmund on Tuesday remains to be seen - let alone Saturday's trip to Bournemouth - but the spirit within this squad is seemingly irrepressible, allied to organisation of a level seldom seen in a team clad in black and white.  

That our next Champions League opponents conceded four goals without reply on their own ground on Saturday in losing their own unbeaten league record only adds to the intrigue.  

Biffa

We're sorry to learn of the recent passing of former NUFC employee Belle McGovern and "Dinsey" a familiar face at games for as long as we can recall. This report is dedicated to both of them.