VAR drama and feisty affairs - Newcastle United's best Arsenal wins at St James' Park

Newcastle games at home to Arsenal are rarely dull. Recent games at St James’ Park have featured a Gary Speed’s double, a Nobby Solano’s late winner and Anthony Gordon’s VAR controversy last season.

The Toon Army will be hoping for another action-packed clash this weekend – with Eddie Howe’s side hoping to end their five game winless run in the league.

Here’s a reminder of some of those past encounters where Newcastle came out on top.

1.Newcastle United 1-0 Arsenal – 4th November 2023

In a game, overshadowed by VAR, Newcastle ended Arsenal’s longest unbeaten start to a season in the Premier League since 2007.

The winning goal, bundled home by Newcastle winger Gordon in the 64th minute, was checked by VAR not once, not twice but three times. The first to check if the ball had crossed the Arsenal byline, the second to see if Joelinton had fouled defender Gabriel with a push in the back, and the third to ascertain that Gordon was not offside.

Victory for the Magpies saw them win their fourth consecutive home game without conceding a goal, for the first time since April 2012.

2.Newcastle United 2-0 Arsenal – 16th May 2022

In Newcastle’s final home game of their 2021/22 campaign, a Ben White own goal and a Bruno Guimaraes tap-in ended Arsenal’s top four hopes.

This season saw Howe take the Magpies to safety after being bottom of the league and winless in December. After beating the Gunners, Newcastle had taken 30 points from their Premier League home games in a season for the first time in a decade.

Callum Wilson led the line, with Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron on either flank. Dwight Gayle and Ryan Fraser both made substitute cameos for Newcastle.

3.Newcastle United 2-1 Arsenal – 15th April 2015

Arsenal’s Alexandre Lacazette put the Gunners in front before Ayoze Perez’ neat front-post finish levelled things up going into half-time. Matt Ritchie scored the winner with 20 minutes left.

After losing to a Newcastle side managed by Rafa Benitez, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger announced he would step down as a manager at the end of the season just five days later.

Arsenal had now lost five consecutive away games for the first time since December 1984. This game certainly holds a special place in Joe Willock’s heart – he made his Premier League debut for the Gunners at the age of 18.

4.Newcastle United 1-0 Arsenal – 10th December 2005

In a feisty affair, The Magpies saw off 10-men Arsenal to secure a crucial win under Graeme Souness after a late winner from Peruvian winger Solano.

Arsenal dominated Newcastle in the first half but following Brazilian midfielder Gilberto Silva’s red card early in the second half, Souness’ men capitalised with relentless pressure and physicality.

After Solano fired past Jens Lehmann to put Newcastle ahead, there was a bust-up between Alan Shearer and Cesc Fabregas before the restart.

Following defeat at St James’ Park, Arsenal had taken just five points from a possible 28 in their Premier League away games in the 2005/6 season. The Magpies went onto finish seventh with Glen Roeder replacing Souness at the helm in early February.

5.Newcastle United 4-2 Arsenal – 14th May 2000

In the final game of the season, Bobby Robson’s Newcastle side came out on top in a six goal thriller against second placed Arsenal.

After ten minutes the score was 1-1, with Speed’s opener for The Magpies cancelled out by Nwankwo Kanu moments later. Newcastle led at the break after Shearer’s thunderous free-kick beat Alex Manninger in the Arsenal goal.

The visitors levelled through Stefan Malz on the restart, however a second for Speed who headed home from a corner put The Magpies back in front.

Newcastle grabbed their fourth when Andy Griffin fired past Manninger in the 63rd minute. This was the first time Newcastle scored four times against the Gunners since 1959 and their first time beating them at St James’ Park for four years.