Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes were dealt a major blow on Sunday afternoon when a smash-and-grab raid from Newcastle saw the visitors come away from the Emirates with all three points.

Andy Carroll’s header on the stroke of half-time put the Magpies ahead and they defended well in the second half to elevate them to fifth in the Premier League.

Arsene Wenger was dismayed at the final whistle and claims that it was a defeat that wasn’t deserved after his team created several goalscoring chances.

Wenger said: “We were never in full flow, but we played against a good Newcastle team who are a team of men, strong physically, mature.

“We did not look sharp and we never found any sharpness. We never found the second gear.

“Overall, though, I still believe we were very unlucky to lose the game, they had one shot on target.

“We hit the woodwork two or three times and their keeper made a very good save.”

Indeed, Tim Krul did pull off some excellent saves in this match and was given a man of the match award at the end of the game, while Lukasz Fabianski was clearly at fault for Newcastle’s goal and once again highlights the Gunners’ need for a top class keeper.