Surprises, naivety and some changes

NEWCASTLE United suffered more late heartache after an injury-time goal gave Arsenal a 2-1 win at St James’ Park.

- By ROSS GREGORY

The Magpies had led through Nick Woltemade's first-half header, but late goals from Mikel Merino and Gabriel gave the visitors a dramatic victory in a tetchy and controversial clash... here some things we learned from the game.

FORMATION SURPRISE

The debate pre-match for Eddie Howe will have been whether to go with his favoured 4-3-3 or select three centre-halves.

Well, I say ‘favoured’ but Howe has increasingly opted for a formation without a flat back four. In Newcastle's previous Premier League game at Bournemouth, a back five was utilised, as it was at Elland Road against Leeds United.

So when the team news dropped 75 minutes before kick off, and Mal-ick Thiaw, Sven Botman and Dan Burn were named in the starting XI, it was assumed that the same formation would be adopted.

There was a hint that all may not be as it seemed in the warm-up as the defenders were put through their paces and that was confirmed at kickoff as Burn lined up at left back, tasked with marking Arsenal's dan-german Bukayo Saka.

It was a move that raised more than the odd eyebrow inside St James’ Park, especially as the England man threatened to run riot early on.