Isak and Gordon show Arsenal what we're missing 

Here's Ian Mills Three Things We Learned after Newcastle beat Arsenal  

Newcastle were the last team to inflict a domestic defeat upon us and after a 13 game unbeaten run in all competitions they exacted another, to leave our Carabao Cup hopes hanging by a thread.

Here are three things that stood out for me, writes Ian Mills 

1 - Isak and Gordon show us what we are missing –

When the two teams last met in November it was Isak’s header from Gordon’s cross that proved to be the match winner and both shone as our attacking limitations were laid bare for all to see once more.

Newcastle started brightly however we gradually started to take control of the game with Jurrien Timber missing a great chance from a header while Martinelli spurned a golden opportunity when clean through on goal as his shot hit the post.

Then after a Newcastle counter attack, Isak clinically fired the ball into the roof of the net against the run of play. Dubravka blocked a shot from Gabriel as we tried to find the equaliser before half time.

Early in the second half another Isak shot was parried by Raya however Gordon was more alert to the rebound than Timber to score a crucial second goal and in all honestly the tie was probably settled in that moment.

We missed further chances via a  Saliba header, a Jorginho drive and worst of all from Havertz who misjudged the ball dropping out of the sky and rather than heading the ball it came off his shoulder with the goal at his mercy.

Bar their goals, the Geordies rarely threatened, in truth they did not need to - not when Isak and Gordon showed us what we are missing. 

2 - Why did our all eligible summer signings sit this one out –

Despite Riccardo Califiori, Mikel Merino and Raheem Sterling all taking their place on the bench none of them were called upon to try to salvage this match and you have to question why. Furthermore, we have a second-choice goalkeeper in Neto who may be on our books for the entire season without appearing in the first team due to being cup tied in this competition.

Mikel Arteta allegedly pushed for the signings of Califiori and Merino, yet if you do not trust them in a cup semi-final when you are 0-2 down it begs the question why sign them in the first place?

The less said about the Sterling the better, I would rather send him back to Chelsea this month so that we can loan a better attacking option from another Premier League club who can then actually made a significant contribution to the rest of our season.

3 - Unrelenting January fixtures -

It was obvious two summers ago that we need another striker, Kai Havertz was bought as a midfielder, Leandro Trossard’s form has dropped off a cliff, Gabi Martinelli is not consistent enough and still lacks conviction in his finishing, while Jesus will never score enough goals.

Then there is the gaping void that Bukayo Saka’s absence creates. Any team would miss such an enormous talent, think Liverpool without Mo Salah, Manchester City without Erling Haaland or Chelsea without Cole Palmer.

The issue is we must prepare to be without him until March at the earliest (I think it might even roll into April personally) and the much heralded ‘internal solutions’ simply are not good enough.

Buying and or loaning a wide player and a forward remains a priority in this window if this campaign is not to fizzle out.