THE greater the sense of adversity, the more impressive Newcastle United become.

At some stage, there might well come a point where the relentless fixture schedule and seemingly endless injury list become too much for Eddie Howe and his players. Given the number of anticipated absentees, Tuesday’s trip to Germany to take on Borussia Dortmund looks a daunting challenge.

For now, though, Howe’s patched-up squad continue to clamber over every obstacle that is placed in their way. Manchester United away with a half-strength side featuring players that have barely kicked a ball for 12 months? Not a problem. Unbeaten Arsenal at home, on a night when the intensity of the opposition side matched the Magpies’ mindset and refereeing decisions were akin to a lucky dip on the lottery? Challenge accepted and overcome.

Of all the victories Newcastle have achieved this season, their latest was probably the most notable because of the collective spirit that was needed to achieve it. Paris St Germain were like rabbits in the headlights as the Champions League returned to Tyneside. Manchester United were a disorganised rabble as they were dumped out of the Carabao Cup.

Arsenal fancied it last night though. From the very first minute, Mikel Arteta’s side appeared determined to prove they had learned the lessons from two seasons ago, when they melted away tamely at a febrile St James’ Park and missed out on a place in the Champions League. The visitors flew into tackles, niggled away at both their opponents and the referee and tried to play Newcastle at their own game, closing down defenders, hassling high up the pitch and pressing in swarms in an attempt to gain the upper hand.

Newcastle could have wilted. Instead, they stood tall, matched Arsenal stride for stride in terms of work rate, commitment, tackling ferocity and energy and emerged with a victory that ended the Gunners’ unbeaten league record and restored the Magpies to the top six. Not only that, but they did it while overcoming the loss of two more senior players to an injury list that was already a severe handicap at kick-off.

“The players and the group have been unbelievable,” said Howe, whose measured post-match approach stood in marked contrast to Arteta’s emotional ranting. “They’ve really stepped up. We’re in a really difficult moment, we’ve got a lot of injuries and we’re playing in a lot of competitions, with a lot of football. But the players are committed to everything, and I can’t praise them enough.

“Here, again, we had to step up in a really difficult game against a top opponent, stretched with injuries and then losing players within the game again. There were difficult moments, but the players just responded superbly.”

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That response was led by Newcastle’s Brazilian enforcers, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton, who patrolled the midfield area, refusing to afford Arsenal’s playmakers even a second in which to settle.

Guimaraes trod a fine disciplinary line and was fortunate to avoid punishment as he clipped Jorginho with a forearm to the back of the head shortly before half-time, but the manic intensity of his performance set the tone for the Magpies’ evening and seemed to permeate through the rest of the side.

Joelinton was magnificent, charging here, there and everywhere to win tackles and protect those playing behind him, and his roar of celebration when he charged down Declan Rice in stoppage time epitomised Newcastle’s unyielding approach.

On their day, both Guimaraes and Joelinton can be fine ball-playing midfielders. When they are needed in the trenches, though, they invariably deliver, something that has been a key factor in their side’s success under Howe.

“They are both brilliant technicians,” said the Magpies boss. “They have different qualities, but they are both excellent with the ball at their feet. But what makes them so special for the English game is that they can adapt their game as well.

“Joelinton was magnificent in duels, aerially or on the floor. He won a lot of second balls for us in a key part of the game. And then Bruno as well, I think defensively, he’s really improved in his time in England with us. You have to be able to defend well in midfield, it’s such a key area of the pitch. You have to be able to protect the centre, and he does that really well for us.”

With Newcastle neutering Arsenal’s creative threat, and arguably unfortunate to be playing against 11 men such was the recklessness of the mistimed challenge on Sean Longstaff that only earned Kai Havertz a first-half yellow card, the stage was set for the controversial series of incidents that settled the game shortly after the hour mark.

Was the ball kept in by Joe Willock as he chased it towards the corner flag? Probably, with replays suggesting it hadn’t quite completely crossed the line. Did Joelinton foul Gabriel as the pair tussled close to the goalline? Probably, although once the goal had been awarded on the field, it is arguable whether it was a ‘clear and obvious’ error that should have been overturned by VAR. Was Anthony Gordon offside when he stabbed home from close range? Probably, although it wouldn’t have mattered if the ball came off Gabriel, which replays couldn’t conclusively prove or disprove either way.

In the end, the goal was awarded, much to the delight of a delirious home crowd and the disgust of Arteta, whose furious reaction should perhaps have been directed, at least in part, towards his goalkeeper, David Raya, who made such a hash of trying to deal with Willock’s cross.

“How the hell does this goal stand,” raged the Arsenal boss. “I feel embarrassed. It’s an absolute disgrace.” Yet when pressed, he couldn’t explain the specifics of his fury.