NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 04: Anthony Gordon of Newcastle United battles for possession with William Saliba of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Arsenal FC at St. James Park on November 04, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
3 standout players from Arsenal’s defeat against Newcastle
Kai Havertz vs Newcastle (A)@kaihavertz29 pic.twitter.com/FBlabqHrbW
— MikeMakesComps (@MikeMakesComps) November 5, 2023
3. Kai Havertz
His best game in an Arsenal shirt this season, including his stints up top. Many might disagree but I thought Kai Havertz was brilliant yesterday. Of course, he didn’t contribute to a goal which is what he needs to do to take his game to the next level, but outside of that, he was very impressive.
In most of the game, any chance that Arsenal seemed to have went through Havertz. He won a free-kick that he then nearly nodded in, he fed Eddie Nketiah through with some tidy play and he often found little pockets of space that unfortunately weren’t exploited.
It was his fiery personality that impressed me most. The German was well up for the game, tussling in midfield and permanently in amongst the action. On another day, he might have been sent off, but he was playing more freely.
All the signs are there for a Kai Havertz explosion and I can’t wait to see it.
pic.twitter.com/cwWqEuswR0
<p>— Arsenal Buzz (@ArsenalBuzzCom) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/06/3-standout-players-arsenal-defeat-against-newcastle/3/"https://twitter.com/ArsenalBuzzCom/status/1721485783125618938?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>November 6, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>It was a real blow for the Gunners’ title chances this season. Victory against Manchester City thankfully means that we’re only three points off Pep Guardiola’s team, but results need to improve to stay in the race.</p>
<p>It was an extremely physical match with many big challenges and constant running. There were no shocking performances in an Arsenal shirt but the attack was particularly disappointing, creating no clear-cut opportunities.</p>
<h2>3 standout Players from the first Premier League defeat</h2>
<p>Here are the three Premier League players who stood out from Arsenal’s first Premier League defeat of the season.</p>
<h2>1. William Saliba</h2>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Saliba is the best defender in the world, he was just showing off at this point 🔥🔥🔥🔥<a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/06/3-standout-players-arsenal-defeat-against-newcastle/3/"https://t.co/7dJSa7JWbd">pic.twitter.com/7dJSa7JWbd
<p>— S👻 (@scrapytweets) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/06/3-standout-players-arsenal-defeat-against-newcastle/3/"https://twitter.com/scrapytweets/status/1721445439080153223?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>November 6, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Saliba was incredible. At several points, it seemed that he was toying around with Newcastle players, knocking the ball over their heads, juggling and performing tricks and flicks.</p>
<p>In defence, he was hardly troubled once. Comfortable in the air, comfortable jockeying his opponent and comfortable with the ball, Saliba is a different class of player.</p>
<p>He has such an aura, both on and off the pitch. It is staggering to think that he is only 22 years old. The contract extension which keeps him at the Emirates until 2027 is more important than any transfer could be.</p>
<p>Gabriel Magalhães also had a good game, although he was arguably at fault for the goal, but Saliba is just a level above his Brazilian teammate. The Frenchman is the real deal.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/06/3-standout-players-arsenal-defeat-against-newcastle/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #2 standout performer </a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Have Saliba or Rice had a bad game yet this season? One or two average maybe but bad? None for me </p>
<p>Our two best players so far this season</p>
<p>— cmbftbl (@cmbftbl) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/06/3-standout-players-arsenal-defeat-against-newcastle/3/"https://twitter.com/cmbftbl/status/1721275879483949500?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>November 5, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
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<h2>2. Declan Rice</h2>
<p>It’s only 11 games into the season and Declan Rice already looks like Arsenal’s captain. A pure leader both in play and out of play, Arsenal fans have already gotten used to his incredible defensive contributions.</p>
<p>Against Newcastle, he also showed how good he can be with the team going forward. Rice broke the lines a few times with runs from midfield, albeit with poor decision-making at the end of these runs. He played valuable forward passes that just weren’t fully taken advantage of by those playing up front.</p>
<p>Despite how well-appreciated he is already, I still think his best work goes mostly unnoticed. While Arsenal were chasing the game, Newcastle countered from a corner. A Newcastle man beat an Arsenal man (I believe Fabio Vieira) for pace, and would have been away at goal if it hadn’t been for Rice striding back powerfully to win the ball.</p>
<p>Declan Rice for £105m was a bargain.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/06/3-standout-players-arsenal-defeat-against-newcastle/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #3 standout performer </a>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kai Havertz vs Newcastle (A)<a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/06/3-standout-players-arsenal-defeat-against-newcastle/3/"https://twitter.com/kaihavertz29?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>@kaihavertz29 <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/06/3-standout-players-arsenal-defeat-against-newcastle/3/"https://t.co/FBlabqHrbW">pic.twitter.com/FBlabqHrbW
<p>— MikeMakesComps (@MikeMakesComps) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/06/3-standout-players-arsenal-defeat-against-newcastle/3/"https://twitter.com/MikeMakesComps/status/1721162608852545756?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>November 5, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/06/3-standout-players-arsenal-defeat-against-newcastle/3/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<h2>3. Kai Havertz</h2>
<p><a title="Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal: Player ratings as Gunners beaten on Tyneside" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/06/3-standout-players-arsenal-defeat-against-newcastle/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/04/newcastle-1-0-arsenal-player-ratings/" rel="">His best game in an Arsenal shirt this season</a>, including his stints up top. <a title="Kai Havertz failed his most important Arsenal audition yet vs. Newcastle" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/06/3-standout-players-arsenal-defeat-against-newcastle/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/05/kai-havertz-failed-most-important-arsenal-audition-newcastle/" rel="">Many might disagree</a> but I thought Kai Havertz was brilliant yesterday. Of course, he didn’t contribute to a goal which is what he needs to do to take his game to the next level, but outside of that, he was very impressive.</p>
<p>In most of the game, any chance that Arsenal seemed to have went through Havertz. He won a free-kick that he then nearly nodded in, he fed Eddie Nketiah through with some tidy play and he often found little pockets of space that unfortunately weren’t exploited.</p>
<p>It was his fiery personality that impressed me most. The German was well up for the game, tussling in midfield and permanently in amongst the action. On another day, he might have been sent off, but he was playing more freely.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="NFrbLWCw5n"><p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/06/3-standout-players-arsenal-defeat-against-newcastle/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/05/mikel-arteta-praises-arsenal-players-newcastle-defeat-var/">Mikel Arteta praises Arsenal players following Newcastle defeat</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" title="“Mikel Arteta praises Arsenal players following Newcastle defeat” — Pain in the Arsenal" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/06/3-standout-players-arsenal-defeat-against-newcastle/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/05/mikel-arteta-praises-arsenal-players-newcastle-defeat-var/embed/#?secret=uA7fxBMZFn#?secret=NFrbLWCw5n" data-secret="NFrbLWCw5n" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p></div>
<p>All the signs are there for a Kai Havertz explosion and I can’t wait to see it.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
