On whether Alexander Isak would join the squad in for the next two games in Korea:

"No, no chance."

On Sven Botman:

"I did not see him struggling; he came off and said his groin was tight. Fingers crossed it's OK."

On transfers:

"We're not deluded. We know we need to bring players in. We've known that; we know what we wanted. It's been a challenging window." 

Pre-game press conference quotes:

"All I would say on the broader picture is whatever happens has to be right for Newcastle. We're in a very strong position financially, we're determined to be successful, we are ambitious, we've got a great season ahead of us. 

"We need to add to the squad and continue to improve, and the journey can continue on an upwards trajectory. I think that's what we all want so that's what we're battling to try and achieve.

"We have multiple players we are looking at in multiple positions but it's a challenge because prices are going up. We need to bring players in, we need to do business. We need the options and the (squad) depth as we found out two years ago with Champions League football.

"I hope we can bring in players and players that can make a difference before the window shuts. We will not stop until the window shuts (on September 1st).

"It's not about numbers, it's about quality. We have identified the positions, now can we find the quality that makes our team better?"

The first game of Newcastle's Far East tour saw them beaten again, but giving a rather better account of themselves than they had in the East End of Glasgow eight days previously.

Goals from Anthony Elanga and Jacob Murphy left this contest level going into the closing stages, before a penalty from Martin Odegaard won it for Arsenal after a plethora of replacements.

Arteta's side had arrived in Singapore on the previous Tuesday, while Eddie Howe's squad swapped the slightly less tropical climes of Clydeside and Tyneside less than 72 hours before kick-off. Extra time acclimatising to the conditions wasn't the only advantage that the Gunners enjoyed however.

Sadly for those of a Magpie persuasion filling the stands and tuning in from afar, the presence of a Swedish international forward clad in the number 14 shirt wasn't a positive development.

Rather than Alexander Isak: still in England "exploring a move" - presumably to the Wirral - the centre of attention was his international colleague Viktor Gyokeres, unveiled following his capture from Sporting Lisbon but a non-combatant as Alan Shearer was here for us some 29 years previously. 

Gyokeres was the sixth signing of the close season for a club fully staffed in the boardroom and capable of efficiently doing business. Contrast that to the Magpie Celeste, dynamic in the club stores post-Castore, but with the look of previous administrations in other areas.

Our sole senior summer arrival to date did take just six minutes to make an impact in 30 degree heat; Swede Anthony Elanga marking his first start by rounding off an admirable attacking move.

Things began to go awry for United following a drinks break on the half hour, Arsenal overturning possession midway in the opposition half and Mikel Merino easily netting against his old club.

Within 90 seconds the Gunners were ahead: Leandro Trossard reacting the quickest to take a free kick down the left and Alex Murphy giving his own 'keeper no chance with a miscued attempt at a first-time clearance from a Kai Havertz centre. 

The black and whites returned for the second period with just Pope and Osula remaining from the original line-up - credible replacements for either not at Howe's disposal for a variety of reasons.

Pope blocking Saka's 56th minute bicycle kick at his near post and within two minutes United were level, substitute Jacob Murphy continuing his habit of friendly strikes with a low 20 yarder.

Murphy turned provider in the 68th minute, delivering a fine cross from the right that Osula met with a powerful header just wide of a goal guarded by replacement custodian Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Concerns were raised by the 70th minute arrival of Harrison Ashby in place of Sven Botman - who himself was only introduced at the interval. The Dutch defender walked off and later confirmed that he felt tightness in his groin,, but a hastily-conducted scan showed apparently nothing untoward.   

Pope then turned an effort from 15 year-old midfield Max Dowman round his post as the Magpies looked to regroup, Ashby going to right wing back and Krafth partnering Schar. 

The North Londoners then scored the fifth and deciding goal from the penalty spot with six minutes of normal time remaining; Joelinton ending Dowman's dalliance into our box by blatantly shoving him and
Martin Odegaard beating John Ruddy from 12 yards when the dust settled.

The post-match penalty shootout that had been mentioned in the build-up (and took place after Arsenal's 1-0 win over AC Milan here on Wednesday) wasn't staged. Ruddy seemed unconcerned.

Howe's side next break new ground for the club with a maiden visit to South Korea, facing a domestic league XI before renewing rivalries with Spurs in another pretend Premier League fixture.

Amid talk of minutes in the legs before facing Aston Villa next month though, the real work that will decide the direction of the season will happen elsewhere. Whether on Tyneside, Riyadh or wherever doesn't matter, but team-building of a rather more tangible sort than pool tournaments is required.

For Harrison Ashby, Matt Targett and Ruddy to be making the numbers up for a club hoping to be competitive in the Premier League and Champions League season isn't worth anyone's currency. The lack of depth highlighted by the latest Botman injury scare here demonstrates our failure even to replace the failed experiment that was Lloyd Kelly.   

That's not to say that this wasn't enjoyable on a superficial non-competitive level: shirts were sold, songs were sung, memories were made, grievances about future ticket allocations aired and so on. 

No amount of new merchandise launches can disguise the feeling that this "project" has gone off course at an alarming rate though. Howe's comments and demeanour amply illustrate that to us. He knows it's unreasonable to expect a repeat of last season's miracles with an ageing workforce and the buck will stop with him, not the suits.

External financial restrictions may indeed hamper our progress, but separate questions about our ambitions and proficiency remain unanswered. There's also a credibility issue that the Isak affair and our response to it raises - are we really the ruthless operators we're reputed to be? 

The hoped-for momentum of silverware in March has swiftly given way to that familiar feeling of inertia. It was a high water mark, an aberration. Ambition has stalled or disappeared and we've levelled out - or gone backwards if viable replacements for messrs Wilson and Isak don't appear.

Far from raising the bar, at this point we appear to have closed it. Back to glass half empty.

Thanks to CW, DC and JA for photos

Special thanks to Singapore-based NUFC.com reader Larry Lim, who has spent a small fortune over the years on postage to stock his Magpies library and wardrobe. Here are Larry's daughters Larissa, Larina and Larine before Sunday's game with some bloke from Lifford.