Newcastle United have moved within just three points of Arsenal following a superb 1-0 win against the Gunners at St James' Park.
Alexander Isak scored the only goal of the game in the 12th minute after the Newcastle striker got his head on Anthony Gordon's brilliant cross.
Here are five things we learned from the game.
Newcastle shut down Bent and Merson
Darren Bent suggested Newcastle were 'levelling out' and that Arsenal 'could make the game easy'. Paul Merson 'doubted' whether Newcastle could back up their win against Chelsea with another victory because the Magpies were 'too open at the back'.
In truth, Newcastle players won't have needed to hear those comments to get up for this game following five league games without win. As Sean Longstaff put it beforehand: "There's a lot of people who I think probably can look in the mirror and say, 'We can be better individually and as a team'. I think that's got to start against Arsenal."
It certainly did start against Arsenal, who only managed to win 42.99% of their duels against a hungry, committed Newcastle. This was the Newcastle we know - the spirit, the grit and the intensity - and the Magpies did not fear title-chasing Arsenal. Rightly so. Arsenal, after all, had dropped points in four of their previous seven league games and Mikel Arteta's team had also conceded nine goals in their previous five top-flight fixtures.
That will have given Newcastle real encouragement. Arsenal may have moved the ball around confidently in the opening stages, but it was Newcastle who struck first when Anthony Gordon's superb cross was met by the head of Alexander Isak. St James' erupted. Eddie Howe punched the air on the touchline. It felt like a big goal. So it proved.
A monumental defensive shift as calls pay off
Eddie Howe had some welcome selection dilemmas following the midweek win against Chelsea and while it was not a surprise to see Tino Livramento, Dan Burn and Bruno Guimaraes come back into the side, Sandro Tonali dropped out as Newcastle 'managed his game load' in the words of the Magpies boss following three games in six days.
Those calls paid off on an afternoon Newcastle defended resolutely. Tino Livramento expertly shackled Gabriel Martinelli. Anthony Gordon was, well, everywhere. Sean Longstaff put in a tireless shift in the middle of the park, winning the ball back on a number of occasions. Joelinton, lining up the left-hand side once more, helped limit the influence of danger man Bukayo Saka alongside the superb Lewis Hall. Dan Burn even slid in at one point to cut out Leandro Trossard inside the box just as the Arsenal forward was about to pull the trigger in the second half.
When Newcastle needed to take the sting out of the game late on, as Arsenal pushed and probed, goalkeeper Nick Pope dropped to the turf, allowing the players to take on some instructions from the touchline. It said it all that Arsenal had 32 touches in the Newcastle box yet only mustered a solitary shot on target. Aside from one late header from Declan Rice, which went wide, the Gunners failed to trouble Newcastle.
Joelinton roar embodies spirit
Arsenal have threats all over. Not just from open play - but set-pieces, too. In fact, no other side have scored more goals from corners and free-kicks in the Premier League this season than the Gunners (five).
Although Newcastle have yet to find the back of the net from a corner, the Magpies have been among the meanest sides in the Premier League when it comes to defending set-plays. In fact, Newcastle have only let in one goal so far.
Saturday was a reminder why. On an afternoon Arsenal had six corners and 16 free-kicks, the Gunners just could not find a way through.
Even on the odd occasion Nick Pope could not get a hand to Declan Rice's delivery, after being blocked off midway through the first half, and William Saliba was able to head the ball on at the back post, Lewis Hall was there to get in the way of Mikel Merino's drilled effort.
Later in the half, when Joelinton managed to hold off countryman Gabriel at the back post, and Thomas Partey's cross bobbled out of play, the Brazilian turned to the Leazes End and celebrated like he had scored. It summed up Newcastle's commitment to the ugly side of the game.
'Uncomfortable' St James' plays its part
Mikel Arteta knew what lay in wait. Opposite number Eddie Howe vowed to 'make it as uncomfortable as we can' for Arsenal after Newcastle set a 'benchmark' in Dan Burn's eyes against Chelsea. "It felt like the season we got back to the Champions League when we didn't fear anyone and we came for teams," the Geordie wrote in the programme. "That's the mentality we want to get back to."
Newcastle showed that mentality on Saturday and no undue respect was given to Arsenal. Anthony Gordon pulled Jurrien Timber down in the early stages and Joelinton manhandled William Saliba as the Arsenal defender tried to get the ball out of his feet just a few minutes later. It set the tone and the crowd were right up for this one.
When decisions did not go the hosts' way, there were chants of 'Same old Arsenal - always cheating!' When Newcastle had to dig in, the fans were there to help them over the line late on, whether it was cheering tackles, repeatedly chanting 'Eddie Howe's black and white army!' or loudly whistling in the dying moments as they urged referee John Brooks to blow up, which he eventually did. This has suddenly become an unhappy hunting ground for Arsenal, who have lost three of their last four matches at St James'.
An unhappy return for Mikel Merino
A lot has happened since Mikel Merino last walked out at St James'. The Spain international has won the Euros; helped Real Sociedad lift the club's first major trophy, the Copa del Rey, in nearly a quarter of a century; and secured a £33m move to Arsenal. However, Merino has never forgotten the 12 months he spent on Tyneside.
"I felt at home there and I'm not lying when I say that," the midfielder previously told ChronicleLive. "I felt so welcome by the fans, by my team-mates, by the atmosphere. The city was amazing...I'm really sure I'm the player that I am now because of Newcastle and all the experiences that I lived there. I'm really happy that I lived that and I wish all the best for every Newcastle fan."
These were not empty words. ChronicleLive understands Merino 'couldn't wait' to come back to St James' on Saturday, but this was ultimately an unhappy return for the Spaniard.
