This was not the end-to-end contest neutrals had been hoping for under the lights, but Newcastle United won't care. The Magpies picked up their first result at the Emirates since 2010 following a goalless draw against league leaders Arsenal on Tuesday night.
Newcastle, in the process, became the first side to stop free-scoring Arsenal finding the back of the net in the Premier League this season - and just the third team to take at least a point off the Gunners in the first half of the campaign. That is six clean sheets in a row now, which is a statement in itself.
In truth, there is more to come from third-placed Newcastle in 2023 - Eddie Howe's side lacked a cutting edge against Arsenal even if Joelinton passed up a great chance before half-time - but this was a night where the visitors showed the other side of their game. After doing everything but score in a 0-0 draw against Leeds United on New Year's Eve, when Newcastle had five times as many shots on target than Jesse Marsch's side, this time, it was the black-and-whites who did whatever was required to see the game out.
READ MORE: Arsenal see nasty Newcastle, Eddie Howe stands up to Mikel Arteta and ref influenced - 5 things
Captain Jamaal Lascelles even took one for the team by getting himself booked for obstructing an Arsenal throw-in late on, which only infuriated the Gunners further. Lascelles, incidentally, was an unused substitute.
Lascelles was the last of five visiting players to be shown a yellow card during a niggly clash as Eddie Howe's side dug in after weathering an early storm and disrupted Arsenal's rhythm - much to the frustration of Gunners boss Mikel Arteta. The Arsenal manager certainly did not hide his displeasure after the 0-0 stalemate as he hissed: "I don't think that Newcastle wanted to set up like this. This is not the way they play. They haven't played against any team like this."
Newcastle had long got under Arteta's skin by that point; Arteta was furious that Dan Burn's shirt pull on Gabriel inside the box went unpunished on the hour mark and it was not long until the emotional 40-year-old was running up and down the touchline.
After confronting Jarred Gillett, when 'only' five minutes of stoppage time were added on, the Spaniard wailed at the fourth official once more after his side were not given a penalty after Granit Xhaka's cross struck Jacob Murphy's arm at the death. Eddie Howe, who was seconds away from a precious point, was not going to stand back and allow Arteta to influence the decision.
Howe tends to stay out of these situations, leaving them to assistant Jason Tindall. However, this time, it was Tindall who was trying to ease Howe away as the Newcastle boss exchanged words with Arteta. A hoarse Howe insisted there were 'no issues' with Arteta, paying tribute to 'a top coach' after the game, but the flashpoint and the nature of the contest felt like a message: this a side who won't simply be bullied and rolled over by the Premier League's established order on the road like they were in a previous era.
To think, the last time Howe took his seat at the Emirates, in his first physical game as Newcastle boss back in November, 2021, the black-and-whites were languishing at the foot of the table. Now, Newcastle are flying in third and Arsenal knew it was not going to be the routine fixture of old before a ball was even kicked.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard said Newcastle had 'quality throughout the team, a good mix of physical and technical players' while team-mate Bukayo Saka even went as far as to call Howe's side 'one of the best teams in the league' - and with good reason. Newcastle, after all, were unbeaten in 14 fixtures in all competitions before this showdown in the capital, after losing just one match all season, and the black-and-whites had already taken points off Man City, Manchester United, Spurs and Chelsea in the first half of the campaign.
If any defence could stop the rampant title favourites, it was Newcastle's. The Magpies were the last team to keep a clean sheet against the Gunners in the Premier League, back in May, and no other side in the top-flight has conceded fewer goals or kept more clean sheets this season.
Newcastle may have travelled to the Emirates with trepidation in the past, after focusing more on Arsenal's strengths than their own, but Howe has flipped that mentality on its head. As goalkeeper Nick Pope put it ahead of this game: "We're motivated to win the big games, motivated to show people how good we are." Indeed, such is the mentality at the club now, the players were 'frustrated' and 'disappointed' in the dressing room after the goalless draw against Leeds last time out because they were desperate to keep their winning run going.
This trip to Arsenal may have come around quickly, following that physical encounter three days previously, but Howe, tellingly, made just the one change as Callum Wilson came back into the starting line-up in place of Chris Wood after the striker returned to full training last week following a bout of illness. Wilson, though, had little to feed off in the opening stages after a blistering start from Arsenal that forced Newcastle back.
The Gunners quickly settled into their passing rhythm and Odegaard sent an early warning shot in the third minute after volleying over the bar. Arsenal then forced Pope into action just a couple of minutes later when Saka skinned Dan Burn down the flank, but the Newcastle goalkeeper kept out the England international's near-post effort with his feet.
Newcastle looked a little shell-shocked. Arsenal, smelling blood, focused their attacks down Newcastle's left-hand side and repeatedly targeted Burn.
Although Newcastle adapted - either Joelinton or Joe Willock started to drop in to protect their team-mate - the visitors lacked a threat of their own. Indeed, Newcastle's only effort of note early on was a long-range shot from Wilson in the 11th minute that was comfortably saved by Arsenal 'keeper Aaron Ramsdale.
Newcastle did break up the game, though, in an effort to disrupt Arsenal's flow and Bruno Guimaraes and Wilson were both booked within a minute of each other as the contest turned into a skirmish before the half-hour mark. Eddie Nketiah, Martin Odegaard and Granit Xhaka soon followed as whistle-happy referee Andy Madley lost control and repeatedly brandished yellow cards.
The stop-start nature of the game suited Newcastle more as Arsenal supporters grew frustrated with Madley and the Magpies had a great opportunity to take the lead right before half-time. Kieran Trippier's corner was flicked on by Fabian Schar to Joelinton at the back post, but the midfielder somehow headed over. It proved to be Newcastle's best chance of the night.
Yet, for all their possession, Arsenal just could not find a breakthrough after the break. The Gunners had a penalty appeal waved away after Burn pulled Gabriel's shirt inside the area on the hour mark before Gabriel Martinelli glanced a header wide in the 79th minute.
Howe knew the closing stages were going to test his side - physically and mentally - and Arsenal duly began to turn the screw as Pope made a crucial stop to deny Nketiah late on. However, despite Arteta's wild penalty protests in stoppage time, Newcastle managed to hold firm. Not for the last time in 2023.
READ NEXT
Arsenal pay 'incredible' tribute to Newcastle and Mikel Arteta already knows what's coming
Eddie Howe reveals wish Newcastle transfer targets must hear as traditional Arsenal plan changes
Leeds United send 'don't mess' with us message after time-wasting as Meslier taunts Newcastle
Arsenal react to Newcastle 'threat' as Mikel Arteta opens up on 'set-up' that's shaken the top 6
Arsenal will see pumped Newcastle after chat and Guardiola turns air blue to prove Magpies point
