NEWCASTLE UNITED overcame considerable adversity once again as Anthony Gordon’s second-half strike secured a 1-0 win over Arsenal and lifted Eddie Howe’s side back into the top six.

Gordon’s close-range finish ended the Gunners’ unbeaten start to the Premier League season, and capped a fine week for the Magpies that also featured a Carabao Cup win at Old Trafford.

It was far from plain sailing for Newcastle, who saw injuries to Dan Burn and Jacob Murphy increase their already-lengthy list of absentees. Bruno Guimaraes’ fifth booking of the season means he will also miss next weekend’s game at Bournemouth.

However, with Guimaraes and Joelinton outstanding at the heart of midfield, and every one of Newcastle’s players putting in a committed shift, Howe’s side were still able to record another notable victory against Mikel Arteta’s title-chasing Gunners.

The game bristled with intensity from the outset, with both groups of players hassling and harrying their opponents and looking to press high up the field whenever possible. Tackles flew in from the first minute, with referee Stuart Attwell’s complete lack of authority only adding to the frantic nature of the proceedings.

The game was played at an incredibly fast pace, but chances were fairly limited throughout a nevertheless entertaining first half.

William Saliba fired in a long-range shot that was deflected wide midway through the first half, before a stretching Eddie Nketiah headed Kai Havertz’s left-wing cross wide at the back post.

Newcastle’s first real opening came in the 27th minute, but while Burn headed Guimaraes’ cross back across goal, Callum Wilson volleyed over from what looked like an offside position.

The game exploded into life eight minutes before the break, with Havertz fortunate to remain on the field as he hurtled into Sean Longstaff close to the touchline.

Havertz could easily have received a red card given that he was not in control of his challenge, but he did not catch Longstaff full on, and Attwell decided a yellow card was sufficient punishment for the Arsenal midfielder.

With the referee struggling to retain control of the game, Longstaff, Fabian Schar and Gordon were all booked during the ensuing fall-out from the incident.

Newcastle threatened again four minutes before the break, but after Wilson narrowly failed to connect with Kieran Trippier’s low cross, Gordon’s poor touch at the back post enabled David Raya to gather the ball.

With tensions continuing to rise, Guimaraes was perhaps fortunate to avoid punishment when he caught Jorginho with an off-the-ball forearm after the pair clashed in the Arsenal half.

Newcastle were forced into a change at the break, with Tino Livramento replacing Burn, who had been holding his back in the closing stages of the first half.

The pace of the second half was every bit as frenetic as before the interval, with Gordon finding himself closed down and unable to get a shot away after Miguel Almiron played him into the left-hand side of the area.

Howe rang the changes shortly after the hour mark, bringing on Joe Willock and Murphy, and within two minutes of the duo’s introduction, Newcastle were celebrating taking the lead.

Both replacements were involved in the opener, with Willock keeping the ball alive close to the corner flag after Murphy dragged a low strike across the face of goal.

The former Arsenal midfielder hung up a cross to the back post, Joelinton challenged with Ben White close to the goalline, and the ball broke for Gordon to stab home from close range.

There were three separate VAR checks – for the ball being out, offside and a foul – but the goal was eventually allowed to stand.

Murphy’s night was to end in agony, with a recurrence of his shoulder problem forcing him off and resulting in the appearance of Matt Ritchie, and Newcastle spent the final ten minutes successfully repelling a series of increasingly desperate Arsenal attacks.