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LONDON: Arsenal will try to continue their strong defensive record on Sunday when they visit a Newcastle United side still struggling to score goals since the departure of Alexander Isak.
Arsenal (3-1-1, 10 points) have allowed just two scores so far in league play. And Manchester City’s Erling Haaland became the first and so far, only Premier League player to score against Arsenal from open play in the ninth minute of last weekend’s 1-1 draw.
Manager Mikel Arteta says the club’s stinginess is a credit not only to his rearguard, but to the approach of all 11 players on the field.
“We start from our frontline and the amount of pressure and work that they put into any defensive line, any goalkeeper, is tremendous,” Arteta said. “So, it’s something collective, it’s a team sport and in anything that we do, everybody has a pivotal role in that.”
Even so, the Gunners still find themselves five points back of Liverpool and already managing injuries to several key players.
However, Arteta said attacker Bukayo Saka should be fit for Sunday’s clash and that his removal following a heavy challenge in Wednesday’s 2-0 League Cup win vs. Port Vale was planned.
Newcastle (1-1-3, 6 points) have scored only three goals so far in the league amid the saga that eventually saw Isak move to Liverpool for a reported fee of $170 million.
The Magpies moved for Stuttgart’s 23-year-old Nick Woltemade as a replacement at the transfer deadline. He’s scored once so far in two league appearances after he had 12 goals in a breakthrough Bundesliga campaign.
That said, Newcastle have won their last three against Arsenal at St. James’ Park, including the second leg of last year’s Leagues Cup semifinal en route to the club’s first major honor in 70 years.
And they’ve been very competitive so far in two home matches against global footballing powers, a 3-2 league loss to Liverpool in the second game of the Premier League season, and a 2-1 UEFA Champions League defeat to FC Barcelona on Sept. 18.
“It has always been a competitive game against Arsenal, and there has been an edge to those games as both teams want to win,” said Magpies manager Eddie Howe. “The more competitive we are, the better we play. We need to bring that to the game on Sunday.”

LONDON: Liverpool manager Arne Slot said Crystal Palace were deserving 2-1 winners as the Premier League champions’ perfect start to the season came to an abrupt end at Selhurst Park.
Slot’s men had won all seven of their Premier League, Champions League and League Cup games since losing on penalties to Palace in the Community Shield last month.
However, a new-look Liverpool, overhauled by a near £450 million ($602 million) spend in the transfer market, have flirted with failure only to be bailed out by a series of late goals.
Ismaila Sarr’s ninth-minute opener was scant reward for a dominant first half from Palace as only a string of saves from Alisson Becker kept the visitors in the game.
It looked like Liverpool might escape south London with a point after Federico Chiesa levelled with another late goal.
But this time the Reds were undone in stoppage time when Eddie Nketiah smashed in.
“If one team deserved to win today it was Palace,” said Slot.
“Credit to Palace — with the Community Shield it’s not the first time we’ve lost to them.
“They deserved to be two or three up in the first half.”
Including the Community Shield, Liverpool have conceded two goals in five of their nine games this season.
Slot was particularly angered by his side’s defending for the winner when Jeremie Frimpong switched off to leave Nketiah unmarked at the back post.
“We can only blame ourselves for defending the way we did,” said Slot.
“One of our players ran out because he wanted to play a counter-attack, which was of no use because time was up, so it was only about defending.
“One player was too offensively minded in that moment, which led to them scoring the winner and us losing the game.”
Palace are the only unbeaten team left in the Premier League.
Stretching back to before their FA Cup win last season, the Eagles have not lost in 18 games in all competitions.
“These are the moments why we love football. The fans will have a great Saturday evening now,” said Palace boss Oliver Glasner.
“We deserved it. Great performance, great game, great win.”
Glasner has transformed Palace’s fortunes over the past 18 months, but believes his side’s first-half display was a new high.
“I think the first half was the best half since we arrived,” he said.
“Leading the champions by one goal you always think they can strike back and we were under immense pressure in the second half.
“But even when they equalized and the momentum can change we kept our heads. It was such a team effort.”