Alexander Isak's early header gave Newcastle a 1-0 win over Arsenal at St James' Park on Saturday, while Eddie Howe's men delivered a decisive blow to Arsenal's title hunt with their first win in six Premier League games.

Mikel Arteta's Gunners remain provisionally third in the standings on 18 points, with the two teams above them – Manchester City and Liverpool – playing later on Saturday. Newcastle climbed to eighth place with 15 points.

“We didn't have the best start (to the season) performance-wise, but we were still able to get results,” Newcastle defender Lewis Hall told TNT Sports. “In the last few weeks, when we played better football, we didn't get any results. We can certainly build on that.”

Isak scored his third league goal of the season in the 12th minute after Newcastle played the ball wide to Anthony Gordon, who then hit a pinpoint cross from the right to the 25-year-old Swede, who snuck in between defenders Gabriel and William Saliba to the header into the far corner, past David Raya.

“That was huge,” Isak, who has scored 12 goals in his last 12 league home games, told TNT. “A big game against a big team, I think it means a lot to us and the fans, it's kind of a statement that we can win this game.”

“(Heading) is not my strongest attribute,” he added. “It feels good to score a goal. The cross was great, I just had to jump and put my head on the ball, so kudos to him.”

The Magpies, who beat Arsenal by the same score at St James' Park last season, did well to keep the visitors off the scoresheet by swarming around them every time they got close to the penalty area.

Declan Rice headed a cross just wide in stoppage time, Arsenal's best chance of the day, then held his head in his hands in frustration.

Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images

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Arteta's side wasted several other chances, including Bukayo Saka's header, which he sent narrowly wide from Kai Havertz's cross.

Hall also denied a great first-half chance from Mikel Merino, who fired the ball towards goal in a crowded five-yard penalty area as Arsenal's only shot was on target.

But Arsenal, winless in their last three league games, could do little against a Newcastle side that had benefited from a strong 2-0 League Cup win over Chelsea three nights earlier.

“We're all a bit sad because we wanted to win today,” Arsenal's Saliba told TNT Sports. “Unfortunately we didn’t make it and didn’t play the game we wanted to play. We deserved to lose today, I think.”

“We have to stick together,” he added. “Last season we had such a phase and we have to stick together and have the confidence to get out of it. We all believe we’ll be back.”

Saturday's defeat means Arteta's team have lost consecutive away league games for the first time since May 2022.