What Edu did after Arsenal defeat to Newcastle United speaks volumes amid major title race twist

Arsenal saw their Premier League title hopes suffer a huge blow after they were beaten by Newcastle United at St James' Park on Saturday. , linked strongly to the Gunners, scored the only goal of the game as he headed home pinpoint cross after just 12 minutes.

Mikel Arteta was able to welcome back into the starting XI, though it was problems in attack that ultimately cost Arsenal. Mikel Merino had the visitors' best chance of the game and only shot on target, with his close-range effort blocked on the line by Lewis Hall.

This time 12 months ago, lost by the same score line on Tyneside, though that defeat came about in very different circumstances. Following the clash,

"We started really well," he told reporters. "I think we were on top of it, and then one action, they have an unbelievable finish, and then momentum changes. We had not enough threat to say that we can win it. I understand that, but after eight, nine, or 10 games we didn't, and we won’t talk about it now."

As a result of their second defeat of the season, remain on 18 points but could be a maximum of eight off the league leaders once all of this weekend's action is completed. Unsurprisingly, Arteta and his players were left dejected at full-time, with that emotion reflected in the stands by sporting director .

The Arsenal club chief looked on solemnly with his hands in his pockets as the players shook hands, with the having now suffered back-to-back away defeats. Thankfully for Arteta and his players, there are still 28 games of the season remaining, with having also dropped points against Newcastle.

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Liverpool, meanwhile, have dropped points to Nottingham Forest, with Arsenal set to face Nuno Espirito Santo's side after the November international break. Prior to that two-week pause, must prepare his players for meetings with Inter in the and Chelsea next weekend. Both Liverpool and City have beaten the Blues already in this campaign, and thus a victory for Arsenal is a must.