Arsenal showed composure, Newcastle did not. End of story at a passionate St James’s Park.
As the 50,000 Geordies funnelled out, cursing referee Andre Marriner, they failed to identify the real villain of the piece who cost Newcastle any chance of winning a competitive and combative encounter.
Aleksandar Mitrovic is the name. The Serbian is built like a powerhouse, has a more than decent touch and cost £13million. One problem – he has no discipline in his game. Tackling is not his forte and never was that better illustrated than in the 16th minute when his boot raked down the shin of Francis Coquelin.
Referee Marriner had no hesitation. Out came the red card and, as Mitrovic left the field, so did Newcastle’s hopes of winning the game.
“I must say that Newcastle decided from the start to make the game quite physical,” said Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger. Something of an understatement that.
Newcastle accumulated six yellow cards to go alongside Mitrovic’s red and that will mean an FA fine.
Astonishingly, Newcastle manager Steve McClaren said: “I have seen it over and over The ball has come over his head, he is looking at the ball. There is no intent, there is no malice. It is coming down and he has stamped on his foot.
“I am very surprised after the way their player rolled about that he was able to carry on.
“It was definitely not dangerous. I hope I can appeal. No doubt we will lose it. But we want to appeal.” He is right on that score.
Mitrovic – in less than a full game of match time – has also collected two yellows. Three referees can’t be wrong.
Newcastle’s aggression was evident from the start and that was understandable against a team with Arsenal’s midfield craft. But the aggression must be controlled and, quite simply, it was not. Marriner’s report to the FA will reflect that.
“We had to keep our nerve and not become aggressive as well,” said Wenger, who reviewed the Mitrovic incident on TV and had no doubts.
“I have just seen it on television and it was a red card. He didn’t play the ball at all.”
And Arsenal had just the men for the occasion as they looked to overcome 10 men, who became more and more stubborn in defence.
To them, a point against title contenders had become as good as a win. Enter Santi Cazorla. Captain for the day, he is the hub of what is exciting about the Arsenal midfield.
He probes, never wastes a pass and was patient as Arsenal worked to prise open a defence superbly marshalled by Fabricio Coloccini.
“Patience was important today,” said Wenger.
And the Newcastle players certainly tested that of Marriner as they disputed almost every decision. But Arsenal refused to be unsettled. They kept their cool, and, in the end, secured victory – albeit in desperately unlucky circumstances for the outstanding Coloccini.
After 52 minutes, Tim Krul was called on to make another superb stop after previously frustrating Alexis Sanchez.
He tipped away a shot from Aaron Ramsey as far as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The England man fired a hopeful shot across the goal and the ball hit Coloccini and was deflected into the net.
“Newcastle defended well,” said Wenger. “We are happy with the three points.”
As he searches for his first league win as Newcastle boss, McClaren reflected: “All you can really show is fight, discipline and togetherness. We needed good organisation, good defending and just to stay in the game. I thought the players did that tremendously.
“We have said in the dressing room that, if we can keep this spirit, that is a good platform on which to go forward.”
A little composure would not go amiss either. Four matches have produced two red cards. Newcastle, significantly, lost both matches.