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Angry at Andy Madley: Arsenal's pros would have liked to have been handed a penalty
Photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images
In the English Premier League, leaders FC Arsenal suffered a small setback.
The Gunners drew 0-0 at home against third-placed Newcastle United.
Previously, Arsenal had won all of the first seven home games of the season.
Newcastle, the best defensive team in the league having conceded just 11 goals, continued their run of 13 games unbeaten.
In the early stages, it looked as if Mikel Arteta's team would constrict the Magpies in their own penalty area: Arsenal created chance after chance.
Martin Ödegaard volleyed over the goal (3rd minute), Bukayo Saka forced Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope to defend with his feet (5th), Granit Xhaka only hit the side netting from a tight angle (7th).
But the Gunners couldn't keep up the pace.
Newcastle worked their way into the game by winning tackles and also managed to keep the ball in their own ranks for longer periods, so that Arsenal could no longer actively shape the game.
However, Newcastle hardly developed their own danger.
Arsenal still had a chance of winning in the closing stages.
Gabriel Martinelli, however, just missed a header (78'), Eddie Nketiah, who represented the long-term injured top scorer Gabriel Jesus in the center of the attack, failed with the best chance of the game shortly before the end to Pope (88').
In stoppage time, referee Andy Madley formed a pack: The referee had denied the Gunners a late hand penalty, Newcastle's Jacob Murphy had the ball shot in the arm by Xhaka.
United is getting closer
Since Murphy had not stretched it too far from the body, Madley's decision was quite justifiable, Arsenal coach Arteta was still annoyed on the sidelines and even briefly clashed with Newcastle's coach Eddie Howe.
After the end of the game, however, both coaches got along again and shook hands fairly.
Arsenal remain top of the table on 44 points, but Manchester City can now reduce the deficit to five points with a win in the game remaining.
Behind them, Manchester United, fourth in the table, caught up with Newcastle on points, while the Red Devils had won 3-0 (1-0) against Bournemouth.
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