Arsenal Lose to Newcastle for 1st Time in Almost 8 Years, 10-Match Streak Broken

Newcastle United came back from a goal down to record their first victory over Arsenal in almost eight years on Sunday, with Ayoze Perez and Matt Ritchie scoring to complete a 2-1 turnaround at St James' Park.

The Gunners travelled to the northeast unbeaten in seven and set off on the right foot after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang set strike partner Alexandre Lacazette up for the opener in their first start together.

But Perez's cute equaliser on 30 minutes was followed by Ritchie's 66th-minute winner, breaking Arsenal's grip on this fixture and moving the Magpies within 13 points of Arsenal, who remain sixth.

Here are the main talking points from a landmark Newcastle win against big opposition:

Magpies Find Silver Streak

After 10 consecutive defeats to the Gunners, Newcastle clinched their first home win over the north Londoners in some 13 years, sealing Arsenal's demise in dramatic fashion.

It seemed ominous when Aubameyang lofted over for Lacazette to send in the opener, indicating Aubameyang is starting to fit the Arsenal modal, per Sky Sports Statto:

But the Magpies never looked like shying away, and a defence that's been well-marshalled in recent months held firm. Kenedy and DeAndre Yedlin flanked superbly on the left and right, respectively.

The Daily Mail's Amitai Winehouse even went so far as to suggest continental qualification should be on the list of priorities next season:

Newcastle were no gracious burglars of points in the end, however, and came close to adding a third through Kenedy late on. They were unlucky not to add more to their account as they ended in the ascendancy.

Benitez is fully deserving of his place in the upper half of the Premier League, and when taking into account Newcastle's off-field struggles this season, his ability to maintain their charge warrants more praise.

Familiar Cracks in Arsenal Angst

After avoiding a close shave against CSKA Moscow on Thursday, Arsenal's holes were again exposed at the back on Sunday in what was far from the confident display their fans are hoping to see.

Coming to St James' Park unbeaten in seven and with three league wins in a row, one might expect more composure against mid-table opposition. Shkodran Mustafi came in for particular criticism after Ayoze Perez's movement eluded him, per James Olley of the Evening Standard:

The Germany international was also partly at fault for not reacting fast enough to prevent Fedor Chalov's opener for CSKA on Thursday. The Press Association's Mark Mann-Bryans was condemning in his verdict:

The same slip-ups were evident in Ritchie's winner, where a bedraggled Arsenal defence was crying out for a leader to enforce some structure and calm under pressure.

Nacho Monreal has perhaps been the most consistently reliable figure in Arsenal's back line this term, which is somewhat worrying considering the full-back has played much of the campaign as a more centralised defender. 

Perez on the Prowl

Perez has always held a reputation as a hot talent at Newcastle—an import from Tenerife who has frequently shown flashes of brilliance. But only this season does the Spaniard seem to be thriving as a Premier League starter.

Taking recent chances, Perez's record now stands at three goals in his last three league games, and Fantasy Premier League showed how his success in front of goal has spiralled:

Throw into the equation that he's scored and assisted in back-to-back 2-1 wins—Newcastle beat Leicester City last Saturday—and Perez is looking like an increasingly important cog in the Magpies machine.