The thing is, while none of the decisions are important in isolation (no missed penalties, no red cards) it gives Newcastle a boost because it plays into their game plan of pressing and tackling hard. Imagine if Man City got away with half their fouls, they would destroy every team 8-0.

I’m not convinced that they do deserve to be winning.

Both sides have had 8 shots, and we have had 2 on target to their 1. Hardly a drubbing.

Pépé for Gabriel

Yeah you won’t see that one too much

martinelli has looked lively but his final ball has been absolutely awful

You aren’t getting a through ball from that midfield. Include Ødegaard in that

Aside from bringing in a striker we need new players who can move the ball quicker in the middle of the park. First touch and weight of pass is everything

Come on Arsenal!!!!

We’ve got Everton at home next weekend.

No one is blaming him. Just pointing out he's been quite biased to the home side with a lot of the small decisions. Newcastle have committed double the number of fouls we have but they are card free and we've taken 2. They are being allowed to play to a higher threshold.

Remember when Xhaka was yellow carded recently and the ref pointed to 3 fouls across the pitch and it was Xhaka's first foul? We are reffed differently. Just to reiterate we're losing this game because newcastle have generally been better than us, they look more threatening going forward and we've looked tired and weak.

Oh well. Europa next year, the rebuild continues without the boost we thought we might get. Did I say keep the faith? It’s abandon ship at the moment. After the anguish of losing out on fourth I think there’ll be some circumspection and realise we’ve done ok this season overall. We carry on.

Well done Ramsdale for bailing us out after Pépé’s pass.

Ah I was looking at Everton’s fixtures which said away. As you were.

Pépé lazy pass across the middle of the pitch, newcastle go through 2v1 and it should be 2-0.

that is why Pépé will be moved on this summer I'm sure of it

Just about everything you've posted has been a complaint about a decision Rich. Seriously it's like a broken record.

£72m for Pépé. Good grief. A totally useless cross. Not that difficult.

Every single cross and final pass we've attempted today has been atrocious

Pépé is useless

We will be disappointed but after the first 3 games we'd have taken europa league.

Another massively over hit cross with 4-5 players in the box. this one from Pépé after an earlier one from Martinelli

Exactly that.

No control and no creativity from mf. Ødegaard Xhaka and Elneny over run and absent. Saka peripheral.

Yes, complete frustration at a poor ref, equally completely frustrated at our tired, poor and weak performance.

Hey ho. Went for broke. And we got broke.

That might seem like a good chance for Ødegaard but there was no chance he was getting it through all those bodies. We must be top of the league for blocked shots

Trying to protect myself really. Sneakily I think a much larger squad and Europa will allow players like Lokonga who hasn’t really worked to develop further.

Just too much for a young, inexperienced and thin squad.

I still think we’ve done well to get where we are.

I mean, look at Man. Utd.

Europa league, here we come

Weak from Ødegaard to just let his man turn and get goal side with so much space. That sort of 'tackle' I've seen from him 5-6 times today

We're still in this - Just need 3 goals in 5 minutes

You haven't been simply complaining the ref is poor Rich, you've been suggesting that he's biased against us. Frankly it is delusional.

Spurs just need a draw now at Norwich right?

Europa it is then.

It’s not. He’s been a homer. Not outrageous but a homer none the less.

Yep, but at the end of season inquest just look who will take the biggest stick from the media. Arsenal who no one put in their top 4 and most had down in 7/8th - or Man U that everyone had in their top 4 and we're expected to make a title challenge

The optimism is admirable.

Newcastle look like the side with it all to play for.

Our players are mental midgets the lot of them.

As someone said on twitter, if you are going to go out of CL contention at least do it with a bang not a whimper.

Ødegaard, Xhaka and Elneny has to be one of the slowest weakest central midfields in Arsenal's history. Completely outfought and outmuscled today, ironically by a player labelled a flop (Joe Linton) and a player we were linked with Guimaraes.

I’ll have 3 of what you’re having please.

Lacazette will provide them

The thing is it's not a surprise. I had a feeling we'd lose and I wasn't the only one.

All said and done - not good enough.

No excuses. Need better players.

It’s not all bad news. We’ve got 6 minutes to equalise.