Mikel Arteta expressed no grievances regarding his team's loss at Newcastle but refrained from admitting that the title race is essentially over. "I am extremely disappointed, we deserved to lose today," stated Arsenal's manager following Alexander Isak's impressive first-half header, which secured Eddie Howe's team their first victory in six Premier League matches. "We were drawn into the game that Newcastle wanted, not the one we intended. However, you must perform at your peak in every match to stand a chance of winning."

Arteta hasn't given up on catching Liverpool and Manchester City at the top of the table, despite his team being seven points behind. "After 10 games, we won't find the solution now," he commented. "It's not about winning the title; it's about being our best selves every week. We need to rectify this situation by Wednesday."

Arsenal's upcoming Champions League encounter with Internazionale at San Siro promises to be a revealing test of the team's resilience, but Arteta must manage without his key midfielder Martin Ødegaard, who is injured. "We don't have him," he stated plainly. "We could discuss that all day, but we have numerous other effective solutions."

These alternatives were insufficient against a Newcastle side that even Arteta, who has seldom seen eye-to-eye with Howe, seemed to grudgingly admire. "They excel at what they do," he remarked. "They pull you into the kind of game they desire. They are all large and very physical, especially Joelinton."

When asked if he needed an Isak, Arteta demurred, asserting: "No, I adore my players and wouldn't trade them for anyone." The Swedish striker, long rumored to be on Arsenal's wish list, was solely focused on Newcastle. He described the win as "a bit of a statement for us and for the fans" and added: "We've had a rough patch, but hopefully this can be a turning point for us."

Howe was similarly optimistic. "The pressure eased slightly after defeating Chelsea [in the Carabao Cup] last Wednesday, but we've had to be incredibly strong mentally," he said. "Today was 95 minutes of concentration and consistency. We managed and controlled some very talented Arsenal players quite well. We looked good. It's just three points, but it means a lot. We hadn't won in a while in the Premier League. I'm sure it will do us a world of good. But now we must ensure this isn't a one-off moment."

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