Newcastle ended Arsenals unbeaten start to the Premier League season as VAR controversially allowed Anthony Gordons goal to stand in the Magpies explosive 1-0 victory on Saturday.

Mikel Artetas side were defeated for the first time in 11 league games, with the manner of their loss leaving a bitter taste.

Joelinton clearly pushed Arsenal defender Gabriel as the pair challenged for Joe Willocks cross, with the ball running for Gordon to score from close range.

As well as appealing in vain for a foul by Joelinton, Arsenal angrily claimed the ball had gone out before Willocks cross.

It was one of a host of debatable moments in a tempestuous encounter at St James Park.

Arsenals Kai Havertz and Newcastles Bruno Guimaraes were both lucky to avoid red cards in the first half.

Coming just days after they crashed out of the League Cup at West Ham, Arsenals second successive loss was a painful blow to their title bid.

Artetas men sit in third place, three points behind leaders Manchester City, with Tottenham able to move into pole position and climb five points ahead of their north London rivals if they beat Chelsea on Monday.

Newcastles victory capped a memorable week for Eddie Howes sixth-placed team, who knocked Manchester United out of the League Cup at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

In a scrappy first half, perspiration rather than inspiration was the driving force as both teams thudded into tackles and pressed relentlessly.

Much of the frenetic action ended with a lack of focus and composure in the final third and Newcastle failed to muster a single shot in the opening half hour.

Arsenal were hardly more clinical, creating precious little to worry Newcastle keeper Nick Pope.

A tetchy evening finally boiled over when Havertz launched into a reckless challenge that sent Sean Longstaff crashing down, sparking a melee between the teams.

Havertz escaped with a booking from referee Stuart Attwell, much to the frustration of Longstaff and team-mates Gordon and Fabian Schar, who were all booked for protesting the decision.

Havertz has now been shown four yellow cards compared to his just one shot on target in the Premier League since his pre-season move from Chelsea.

Gabriel Martinellis strike was held by Pope in a rare moment of Arsenal incision, but Guimaraes brought an appropriately acrimonious end to the half.

The Brazilian was fortunate to avoid a red card as he elbowed Jorginho in the head, then booted the ball at Havertz and was shoved by Declan Rice in retaliation.

Guimaraes seemed to be embracing his role as the games agent provocateur and the midfielders needless barge into Jorginho somehow escaped punishment after the break.

Rice headed narrowly wide after Newcastle failed to properly clear Martinellis cross.

It proved a costly miss as Newcastle took the lead in controversial fashion after 64 minutes.

When Willock retrieved Jacob Murphys wayward shot by the corner flag, the ball was perilously close to going out of play.

But the Newcastle midfielder was allowed to continue the attack, whipping over a cross that led to Joelintons shove on Gabriel, allowing Gordon to finish from barely a yard out.

Arsenal surrounded Attwell to protest but VAR ruled in Newcastles favour on three counts; deciding the ball did not go out, there was no foul by Joelinton and Gordon was not offside.

Although they dominated possession in the closing stages, Arsenal were impotent in the penalty area as they suffered a first bloody nose this season. (AFP)

PHOTO: Newcastle Uniteds English midfielder #10 Anthony Gordon (C) celebrates after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Arsenal at St James Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on November 4, 2023. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)