NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, England — The handshakes were cursory and the celebrations prolonged. Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe said Saturday’s 1-0 win over Arsenal “means so much more” because of recent poor results, but there is another reason; Alexander Isak‘s 12th-minute header not only dented the Gunners’ Premier League title hopes, but also deepened one of the division’s more unlikely rivalries.
Both Howe and Mikel Arteta have attempted to make their sides more combative and streetwise as they both eye grander prizes. As a result, when these teams clash, sparks tend to fly. This was another feisty affair — albeit without the acute flashpoints of the past — but the seismic consequences of Newcastle’s win creates a new chapter in the growing animosity between two clubs with no geographical or historic reason to square off until recent years.
Newcastle’s Saudi Arabian-led takeover in 2021 awoke a sleeping giant determined to gatecrash the established elite, a place where Arsenal have habitually resided despite waiting 20 years for a league title. Arteta refused to think in those terms despite missing an opportunity to close the gap on Liverpool (who won their match later on Saturday, while Manchester City also lost) at the top of the table but couldn’t help a small dig at Newcastle on his way out of St James’ Park.
“You know the game they want to play,” he said after the match. “It’s clear. You get dragged into that kind of game too often and we weren’t good enough and didn’t have enough answers to get out of that constantly.”
Howe dismissed Arteta’s assessment as “irrelevant,” like any other “outside noise.” Both managers are too savvy to be drawn into open warfare, but the enmity between Newcastle and Arsenal undoubtedly exists and has grown in recent years.
On-field frustration
Newcastle inflicted a damaging 2-0 defeat on Arsenal at the end of the 2021-22 season which effectively ended their hopes of Champions League qualification. Although the Gunners’ insipid performance that night triggered a furious reaction from Arteta, his ire was focused inward rather than towards his opponents given they mustered so little threat despite the stakes in play.
Things changed in Jan. 2023. Newcastle held Arsenal 0-0 at Emirates Stadium in a match featuring escalating anger and frustration as the visitors defended resolutely and frequently slowed the game down. The ball was in play for around eight minutes less than the Premier League average for a match at the time. Arsenal were aggravated further in injury time as a late penalty appeal for a handball from Jacob Murphy was not awarded by referee Andy Madley and VAR did not intervene.
Arteta and Howe exchanged heated words on the touchline and afterwards the Spaniard said: “We had so many situations and then we had two scandalous penalties. They are two penalties, it’s very simple. I’m talking about what I’ve seen, now, and it’s two scandalous penalties. I am not sure why they set up like that. They haven’t set up like that against any team this season.”
A source has told ESPN that Arsenal subsequently used the example of Newcastle’s running the clock down that day — which began early in the first half — in subsequent conversations with Professional Game Match Officials Limited PGMOL on how to improve officiating. There was, then, particular satisfaction when Arsenal returned the favour during a 2-0 win at St James’ in May 2023.
Howe said: “They slowed it down. Lots of breaks in play, frustrating for us. Naturally, we wanted the ball in play more, especially when you’re chasing the game.” Arteta said in response: “For sure, our team isn’t like that.” Except they are.
Under the stricter new rules, Arteta was booked five times last season — a league high for managers alongside former Brighton & Hove Albion boss Roberto de Zerbi. He is one of only five managers yet to be yellow-carded this term and previously spoke about how meditation now forms part of his routine.
“On the touchline I haven’t got to that point where I am in meditation mode yet, but maybe it is something that has to happen,” he said. “I just want the best for the team and I want to give the team the best chance to be as competitive as possible, to win the majority of the football matches. When they changed the rules and certain behaviours towards the touchline we need to adapt to that and evolve. That is what I try to do.”
That attempt to adapt at least in part explains Arteta’s palpable annoyance at Tindall on Saturday. He could be seen on more than one occasion pointing out to fourth official Darren Bond that Tindall was stood alongside Howe in breach of the rules.
Arteta also held up four fingers to Bond in pointing out the number of fouls Joelinton committed without being booked. There were handshakes at full-time but no lingering embrace and, doubtlessly, no love lost.
Transfers
It would be a stretch to suggest the two clubs are reluctant to do business with each other in the transfer market but there are many instances of admiring glances being cast in the direction of players on the opposing team. Willock left Arsenal for Newcastle in Aug. 2021 for £25 million and he started in midfield on Saturday alongside Bruno Guimarães, who the Gunners have previously shown an interest in. No offer ever materialised, but due to the potential transfer fee involved, Arsenal looked elsewhere.
The same is true of Isak, who in that context somewhat inevitably made them pay with a superb winning goal, benefitting from Gordon’s superb delivery to plant a firm header past David Raya on 12 minutes.
Arsenal have been scouring the market for a striker over recent months and looked at alternatives when their preferred choice, Benjamin Sesko, signed a new contract to stay at Red Bull Leipzig.
Isak — who now has 12 goals in his last 12 home games in the league — can count Chelsea among his potential suitors but all clubs were told by Newcastle in the summer that they were reluctant to let him leave and would not countenance anything less than a British-record transfer. That means they would hold out for a fee in excess of the £115m that Chelsea paid Brighton for Moisés Caicedo.
Newcastle explored moves for Arsenal fringe players Aaron Ramsdale — who eventually joined Southampton — and Kieran Tierney but without success.
Differing outlooks
These two clubs are increasingly opposed at a philosophical level. Arsenal self-funded their move to Emirates Stadium and are part of an established elite sometimes sceptical of new money motives and methodology. Owned outright by Kroenke Sports Enterprises since 2018, sources say the Gunners are broadly supportive of the league’s Profit and Sustainability Rules, at least in terms of trying to bring some sensibility to spending.
Newcastle were acquired by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund in October 2021 with the aim of “regularly competing for major trophies” — a goal that would be much easier to reach if spending was unchecked and authorities took a liberal approach to sponsorship deals involving companies linked to a club’s owners.
Manchester City’s recent legal case against the Premier League over those associated party transaction (APT) rules exposed the fault lines further. The argument centred on how APTs are controlled, specifically if and how potential sponsor agreements involving companies already closely tied to a club should be assessed by fair market value to avoid artificial inflation. Restrictions on fair market values were introduced by the Premier League shortly after Newcastle’s takeover in Dec. 2021, with clubs voting 12-6 in favour with two abstaining.
When the case was heard, City argued the rules were anti-competitive and therefore unlawful. Acting as witnesses for City were Chelsea, Newcastle and Everton — three clubs which have all been the subject of takeovers within the last three years. On the other side, Arsenal were called as a witness for the Premier League along with Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham among others.
A complicated verdict was announced last month — both sides claimed victory as the Premier League argued the APT framework was upheld but City pointed out some of their complaints were upheld. It was a prelude to City’s bigger fight with the Premier League regarding 115 charges of breaching financial rules — a case currently being heard — but also underlined the differing viewpoints at boardroom level that have created unexpected alliances and enemies among top-flight clubs.
Atmosphere
Earlier in his tenure as Arsenal boss, Arteta would regularly cite a desire to make Emirates Stadium a more intimidating venue for opponents by creating a stronger bond with supporters.
In Jan. 2024, he said: “We are really happy with the atmosphere that we have created at the Emirates. It has been really supportive. Can we tweak it and make it even more hostile? I think we can. That’s the next step in my opinion.”
Sources have told ESPN that St James’ Park was one of the atmospheres Arteta sought to draw inspiration from, and a month later they had a chance to make a point to Newcastle in the return fixture following the Gordon controversy.
Sources say that while the additional prematch light show, tifos, flags and motivational social media videos were designed to rally supporters for an unusually late weekend kick-off (8 p.m. UK time), they were also in part a reflection of the opposition.
On Saturday, Arsenal attempted a mind game of their own at kick-off when they won the coin toss, choosing to swap sides so Newcastle could not attack their favoured Gallowgate End in the second half. The atmosphere wasn’t at its rip-roaring best, perhaps due to the early kick-off 12:30 p.m. local time) or Newcastle’s indifferent recent form.
But St James’ was euphoric at the end with Arsenal now made to wait until May for a shot at revenge against their new rivals from the other end of the country.
