"With every game that goes by and we concede goals it's a concern. We're working on lots of things behind the scenes to try to improve that but that probably wasn't evident in today's performance. Defending from set plays wasn't good enough.

"(At half-time) there was a mixture of blunt honesty and how are we going to play in the second half. It was much improved, we were the dominant team and had some chances and you thought if we could get the next goal the game could swing.

"The players that have been fit have been magnificent this season in really challenging circumstances. We’ve always managed to have that spirit to come back. This was difficult, but I thought we showed our character in the second half, and now we're going to have to show that again against Blackburn, which is a huge game in our season.

"In really, really challenging situations, the players have really stuck together. We have to do that now for Blackburn. We have to look at this as the biggest game of our season, and yeah, there's a lot resting on this next game.”

On the enforced goalkeeping change:

"I would have liked him (Karius) to be quieter than he was, I would have liked us to have defended our goal better than we did.

"I thought he made some good saves and I thought he kicked okay so it's his second game and he's come in for two really tough games so he can be pleased with his performance.

"It was (Friday) it became apparent that Martin wasn't going to make the game. In some senses, I don't think that's an issue for a goalkeeper of (Karius') experience."

On Isak and Willock:

"I think Joe's cameo was excellent. I think he showed exactly what we've missed from him, and his qualities of attacking the box late and getting goals.

"Alex's return was a huge positive, and he’ll hopefully have improved for that 60 minutes. Apart from that though, I'm struggling to find too many more.

That Newcastle's five game unbeaten run was abruptly ended at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday night came as anything but a shock, even if Eddie Howe's side were notionally 90 minutes away from completing their first win double over Arsenal since 1995 at the first whistle.

What followed was inevitable given United's porous defence and the form of Mikel Arteta's side, who made it 30 points out of a possible 39 here this season with minimum fuss; instantly taking the game by the scruff of the neck and allowing the visitors one touch in the home box before half time. 

Throw in some righteous indignation from the Gunners after the over-the-line controversy in the previous meeting - married with residual whining after the 0-0 here last season - and the outcome was almost pre-determined.

Sadly for those of a Magpie persuasion who survived the invasive dud ticket lottery created by their own club, what followed on the field was barely worth crossing the road for - never mind trekking here for the sadistic start time and the enforced overnighter for all but the hardiest travellers.

The bodies thrown in the way of anything that moved here in last season's 0-0 draw that included five away bookings were absent here tonight: no dark arts were required to overcome us in what at times had the feel of a friendly match. There seemed little appetite for the fight from our lot; an unwillingness to fully engage in the contest seemingly symptomatic of a lack of belief. That may be an understandable attitude for the fans, rather less acceptable from the players.

A bungled attempt at an attack by Miguel Almiron represented our only forward move of an opening period in which Arsenal beat a path to the goal guarded by Loris Karius with depressing regularity, winning their first corner within 20 seconds.  

The German custodian was making his league debut for United after Martin Dubravka was ruled out due to an unspecified illness. He was beaten for the first time by an attempted clearance from Tino Livramento after a corner that rebounded off Sven Botman and over the line. 

That was in the 18th minute and just six minutes later Kai Havertz converted Gabriel Martinelli's pull back to double the score, Botman again found wanting.

Somehow United made it to the break without conceding further and although they made no changes for the second half, some harsh words in the dressing saw them at least try to get upfield after Havertz reverted to type with a glaring miss when it looked easier to score.

Alexander Isak fired narrowly over before Anthony Gordon's routine effort at David Raya registered his side's first shot on target in the 49th minute. That hint of a revival was an illusion however, as the Gunners merely raised their game a few notches and added two further goals within five minutes.

The first of those following a double switch by Howe, Bukayo Saka continuing his scoring run with Fabian Schar getting the final touch before Arsenal's fourth from another corner; credited to Jakub Kiwior but deflected off Lewis Miley for a third home goal with a final touch from a visiting player. 

Going 0-4 behind saw a further trio of substitutions and one of those was fit-again Joe Willock, wisely replacing Bruno Guimaraes, who continues to successfully walk his yellow-card tightrope and didn't allow frustration to get the better of him here, despite being well shackled throughout.

Also introduced was Dan Burn, dropped for Livramento after Howe belatedly opted to change his backline. We'll never know whether Blyth's favourite son would have coped better with Arsenal's fruitful set pieces, but he did add an assist and a goal line clearance just before full time. 

Had that gone in, it would have been the 100th goal scored during our 26 league games. Gulp.

Back to the 99th goal though and Burn's centre was headed home by Willock, ending the wait for a Newcastle strike on this ground that was closing in on a decade since Ayoze Perez nodded in Jack Colback's cross to the visible disgust of opposition manager Arsene Wenger. 

Along with seeing Isak walk off the field unassisted, the return of a bulked-up Willock was one of the few positive aspects of tonight, along with the fact we can't play these buggers again this season.

That's scant consolation though on what was a demoralising night in North London when Kevin Keegan's infamous line about being a million miles away from the front runners came to mind. 

We're no fans of Lego hair, but feel a measure of gratitude to him after our goal difference reduced by just three. While we had a full week in which to be outclassed, his side were in Porto. The effort expended there may just have kept tonight's scoreline from the landslide we'd silently feared.

Howe may also care to express his appreciation to Arteta's side for boosting his efforts to secure an extended contract for Joelinton, whose absence here tonight was telling. That this was Lewis Miley's least impressive game since his debut was no reflection on him, rather on the situation that has seen him (effortlessly) growing up in public. 

With barely a chance to draw breath then it's on to Blackburn, when a sold-out away end will hope that the 2024 vintage Magpies can reprise some of the fabulous nights under the Ewood lights their predecessors enjoyed - but not the one with that Fenton lad. 

Defeat wouldn't end our season, but it would give Howe's critics more ammunition than coming second best here, on a ground where Manchester City and Liverpool also left empty-handed.    

Biffa