Gary Neville was impressed with Newcastle United striker Nick Woltemade following his goal against Arsenal.
Woltemade, who scored the winner on his Premier League debut earlier this month, bagged his second goal of the season up against the Gunners.
Indeed, Newcastle United’s club record signing nodded in Sandro Tonali’s cross to give Eddie Howe’s side the lead.
It was a typically controversial first half in what is a budding rivalry between the two teams.
Arsenal had a penalty overturned against Newcastle by VAR after referee Jarred Gillett had initially awarded a spot-kick.
Nick Pope brought down Gunners forward Viktor Gyokeres and it initially looked like a clear penalty, only for VAR to point out that the Newcastle goalkeeper had played the ball.
It would be fair to say it was relatively fortunate from a Newcastle perspective, but there was nothing lucky about Woltemade’s goal.
Neville, watching on for Sky Sports, was impressed.
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Gary Neville reacts to Nick Woltemade’s goal for Newcastle United
The former Manchester United and England defender was impressed with the German international.
He told Sky Sports: “It is a big, big goal. For a big, big man. Take a bow.
“Arsenal complaining about a push. David Raya went crazy. Leandro Trossard complaining about the push.”
Woltemade now has double the Premier League goals this season than a certain Sweden international he replaced on Tyneside…
Mikel Arteta fumes at Nick Woltemade’s goal
According to BBC Sport’s LIVE blog, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta indicated his unhappiness at Newcastle’s goal.
In fact, they claim that the Spaniard called for VAR intervention from the touchline at St James’, with Arsenal unhappy for a supposed push on their defender Gabriel.
“Mikel Arteta did the VAR signal to the officials after that goal,” they wrote.
“He’s going to have a lot to moan about if Arsenal don’t win this game.”
Nothing was given and it would have been very harsh if so. While Arsenal can feel slightly unlucky with the penalty call, ruling Woltemade’s goal out would have been an even worse decision.
Newcastle were worthy of their lead at half-time and have their most expensive in history to thank for it.
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