As Miƙel Arteta entered the post-match press conference, his demeanor revealed a brewing storm. His eyes red and his face filled with anger. What followed was an impassioned and furious speech from the Arsenal manager. He expressed feeling sick and disgusted after AntҺony Gordon’s winning goal passed three separate VAR checks, resulting in Arsenal’s first league defeat of the season.

Unfortunately, there was no conclusive camera angle to definitively show whether Joe Willocƙ had kept the ball in play. The push by Joelinton on Gabriel was not deemed a clear foul, and there was no clear camera angle to determine whether the ball had come off an Arsenal or Newcastle player before reaching Gordon, making it impossible to judge offside. According to VAR’s standards, these incidents did not constitute clear and obvious errors. Arteta’s frustration was understandable. How many goals, since the introduction of VAR, have undergone three rounds of checks, with two of them sparking intense debate? In support of their manager, Arsenal issued a statement on Sunday, resembling Liverpool’s approach, demanding that PGMOL urgently improve the standards of officiating. Yet upon reflection, Arteta should be more concerned about his team’s performance, which was overshadowed by the VAR controversy.

Despite 60% possession, Arsenal managed just one shot on target in their recent match, a weak effort from Gabriel Martinelli straight at Nick Pope. It was a lackluster performance that did not warrant three points. Some may аrgue that midweek’s Carabao Cup defeat to West Ham was irrelevant, but it was clearly important to Arteta. In a desperate attempt to salvage the match, he brought on Martin Odegaard, Martinelli and Bukayo Saka for the final 25 minutes. With back-to-back defeats, how Arsenal respond in the coming weeks will tell whether they can challenge Manchester City for the title. The loss raises certain questions about the team.

Eddie Nketiah, who is usually a reliable option off the bench, proved to be an inadequate replacement for the injured Gabriel Jesus, as demonstrated by his failed shot against Newcastle . When Jesus is absent, especially in away matches, Arsenal needs a striker who can create opportunities and make things happen, especially when opportunities are scarce.

This increases the focus on Brentford’s Ivan Toney in the upcoming January transfer window. He may be Arsenal’s priority target. Another area of concern is the goalkeeper position. David Raya’s ability to distribute from the back was commendable against Newcastle, an aspect that has come under scrutiny in the past. However, before Gordon’s goal, Raya made a clear mistake, losing the ball completely, leading to questions about his position.

The goalkeeper’s dilemma should not be an issue at Arsenal, but Arteta’s decisions have made it one. He now faces the choice of returning to Aaron Ramsdale, who enjoyed an impressive 2022-23 season as Arsenal won the title. There is unnecessary supervision where there should not be.

As for Nketiah, he lacked opportunities in the match, and the absence of Odegaard, the creative force behind the scoring chances, was clearly felt.

In the absence of Martin Odegaard, Arsenal sorely missed his ability to provide service between the lines. The team lacked a capable deputy who could fill that creative role. Kai Havertz had another forgettable game in terms of creativity and was fortunate not to be sent off. Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli also had quiet nights on Saturday, and when they faced double marking, their effectiveness diminished. This raises the question of Arsenal’s plan B and alternative strategies.

However, credit should also be given to Newcastle for their resilience. Despite limited possession, they held on and Arsenal struggled to create many chances.

Eddie Howe deserves commendation for his management of the squad amid an ιnjury crisis. With several players sidelined and Sandro Tonali banned for 10 months due to betting rule violations, fringe players and those recently returning from ιnjury have had to step up immediately.

Jamaal Lascelles has performed admirably since his return to the team following Sven Botman’s knee ιnjury, and he successfully neutralized Arsenal’s attacking play. Newcastle has now won five and drawn two of their last seven league matches.

While the triple VAR check and Arteta’s outburst will dominate the conversation, Arsenal must also reflect on matters closer to home and consider potential improvements.