Baffling Woltemade call hurts NUFC as axed Lewis Hall's expression says it all

This was Eddie Howe's 16th defeat of the top-flight campaign with Nick Woltemade once again overlooked against a Gunners defence who looked shaky. Nevertheless, the 6ft 6in German international was afforded just 15 minutes and when he did appear he was thrown back in as a midfielder.

Woltemade produced the only moment of real quality in the second half when he drifted the ball in for Yoane Wissa who blazed over. It was a day in which Lewis Hall was also dropped and did not get a single minute to run at that jittery Arsenal backline.

Hall went over to the away end and waved before leaving the field alone with a blank expression on his face. Hall's omission had sparked a big debate within the fanbase in the build-up to kick off.

Was this a moral victory for Newcastle? Maybe so but you don't pick up points for moral victories.

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The manner of the defeat may be enough to keep some of the heat away from Howe but the way this season is petering out is a concern. Newcastle managed three shots on target but Arsenal cranked up the pressure late on and could have won by more.

United got lucky in the second half when Nick Pope had a rush of blood and escaped with a yellow card as Viktor Gyokeres sprinted through.

On four minutes, Sandro Tonali rolled a superb pass to Bruno Guimaraes but his effort, as well struck as it was, floated over the bar. Both were chances Newcastle could have done with converting as the Gunners then began to stamp some authority on the game.

First England star Eberechi Eze latched on to Martin Odegaard's effort flash wide of Nick Pope's left-hand post from outside the box on eight minutes after a short corner routine. Seconds later, Sven Botman was caught napping as Noni Madueke sped past him with Malick Thiaw saving the Magpies with a slide challenge.

But the Magpies switched off for the resultant corner, and this time Eze swept home the opening goal. Newcastle had held out for just nine minutes before the cracks began to emerge in North London.

Eze's earlier effort had proved to be a range finder for the ex-Crystal Palace star, but more worryingly, he'd been left free to fire the home team a goal to the good. And just as much of a concern was the fact that Newcastle didn't learn from the short corner which had unfolded for a THIRD time in the opening minutes.

It was Madueke and Martin Zubimendi who worked the ball to Kai Havertz before his pass to pick out Eze resulted in the £60m man bending it in the bottom corner to beat Pope after finding himself unmarked. Newcastle reacted with a 17th-minute shot from Willock, which was patted down by Raya.

Madueke controlled a long ball mid-way through the first half, but his weak shot was easily gathered by Pope, and the deficit stayed at just 1-0. Just after the half-hour mark, Sandro Tonali rifled an effort at goal which had Raya flapping, but nobody followed up on the rebound for what would have been a golden chance.

Arsenal were dealt a blow on 34 minutes when Havertz went off for Viktor Gyokeres after an injury setback. Both Ramsey and Dan Burn hit shots well wide of the target as Arsenal held on to their lead.

There was a glimpse of goal five minutes before half-time after Bruno Guimaraes was fouled but his pass to Tonali was easily blocked by the Gunners defence. Despite having nine goal attempts, Newcastle went in a goal down at the interval.

Just seven minutes into the second half, the Arsenal hero Eze went off with an injury and was replaced by Gabriel Martinelli. As the game drifted towards the hour mark, the cameras panned in Howe while he was deep in thought and considering changes.

On 56 minutes Burn went into the book for a foul on Gyokeres leaving him skating on thin ice. Botman suffered a boot in the back of the head but was deemed fit enough to continue as Newcastle's quest for an equaliser continued.

Howe pondered changes as the game went through the motions and opted for Yoane Wissa and Harvey Barnes to freshen up his attack. Osula and Murphy trudged off without managing a shot on goal at the Emirates Stadium.

Nick Woltemade was sent on for Bruno with 15 minutes to go and was thrown into the midfield battle. Nevertheless, he produced a clear chance when dinking the ball over the top for Wissa, only for the DR Congo striker to fire over the bar.

With seven minutes left, Barnes hung up a cross from the right for Burn, but his header went into the gloves of Raya. Pope made a fine save with three minutes left after Odegaard tried a low swerving effort, which earned Arsenal a corner.

The fourth official displayed a total of seven minutes added time as Arsenal's nerves were put through the wringer. The Magpies were handed a late free-kick but Arsenal headed clear and the final whistle sounded.

The manner of the performance was certainly better but that's now five defeats on the spin for Newcastle and they now have Nottingham Forest and Leeds breathing down their necks.

Referee: Sam Barrott (Yorkshire)

Attendance: 60,204