Newcastle United continued their unbeaten start to the season with a 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in their first away game of the campaign. Goals from Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa in the second half secured Matthias Jaissle's first Premier League win as a manager, following a draw with Liverpool and a Carabao Cup victory over West Brom.
Nico Gonzalez impressed on his debut, while Sandro Tonali struggled in his first meeting against Newcastle since his £100million summer move to Tottenham. Here are five things we learned from the match.
Nico Gonzalez tactic instantly pays off
Gonzalez joined Newcastle on Wednesday in a £50million move from Manchester City and was thrown straight into the starting XI, partnering Lewis Miley in midfield. The 24-year-old showed his quality in moving the ball forward quickly and controlling possession to slow the game down when needed.
The Spaniard constantly looked for a long ball over the top, finding Elanga and Amar Dedic at will into the right channel. The first goal came from a stunning crossfield pass into Dedic, who nodded the ball down to Elanga. Elanga turned Tonali before firing past Kinsky with his left foot, the ball cannoning off the post and into the net.
While Elanga celebrated, Gonzalez turned to the bench, pointing over to Jaissle. The tactic devised pre-match had almost worked in the opening minute, only for Elanga to flick over the bar from Dedic's knockdown, but this time it worked perfectly and the new boy was quick to credit his manager.
Tonali taunted as he struggles in Newcastle reunion
Tonali faced his first home match as a Tottenham player in the Premier League against the side he left for £100million last month. After seeing Alexander Isak crumble under the heat of St James' Park, Tonali went on the charm offensive in midweek with a pre-match interview with Sky Sports.
"With me they were amazing every every single day from the first season," Tonali said of Newcastle fans. "I think [I] will be a little bit more nervous and with tension. But I love all the people there."
The travelling Toon Army gave him no easy ride, with some frustration that he joined a club who have finished 17th in the Premier League for the last two seasons rather than a genuine European powerhouse. Tonali was booed throughout on his every touch, with chants of 'one greedy b-----d' ringing out from the away end. He looked nervy in the first half but grew into the game. He was turned by Elanga for the first goal, and when he was taken off in the second half it prompted huge cheers from the away end who taunted him as he headed for the bench.
Willock vote of confidence could mean Woltemade writing is on the wall
Willock started the summer looking like a certain transfer exit. He entered the final year of his contract, had almost left the club in January amid interest from other Premier League sides, and felt like one of the club's most saleable assets amid increased competition in midfield. When interest emerged from Turkish giants Besiktas, it felt like the writing was on the wall.
However, he came off the bench to score against Liverpool and started each of the last two games, with Jaissle seeing him as an excellent No 10 option. Things could still change in the next couple of days, particularly if Besiktas make a tempting offer, but if Jaissle had his way he would stay. If he does, the next question is surely when, rather than if, he is offered a new contract.
With Will Osula injured, Willock and Yoane Wissa were preferred in the No 10 and No 9 roles, adding fuel to talk of a possible Newcastle exit for Nick Woltemade. He has been linked with a loan move to a number of Italian clubs, with Napoli's interest thought to be the most concrete, with the German struggling for form and confidence on Tyneside.
After scoring nine goals in his first three months at the club last season after his club record move from Stuttgart, Woltemade has scored just twice since. He was moved from a forward to midfield to a 10 role under Eddie Howe in the second half of last season, but any hopes he would hit the ground running under Jaissle have quickly evaporated. He has struggled during pre-season and at the start of the competitive season, and with Willock preferred to him this evening, it feels more and more likely his future could lie away from St James' Park.
That will only be heightened if Newcastle sign a forward in the final three days of the transfer window, with United keen to sign one of Matias Fernandez-Pardo from Lille or Stuttgart's Bilal El Khannous. Woltemade came off the bench and sent a reminder of his talents, nodding the ball into the path of Wissa for Newcastle's second goal. But he snatched at a couple of openings for himself, and it is clear he needs a shot of confidence - whether it is on Tyneside or beyond after the transfer window slams shut on Tuesday.
Jaissle finds magic touch that's escaped De Zerbi
Spurs may have spent almost £400million this summer, but Roberto De Zerbi made five changes to the team beaten by Brentford last weekend. By contrast, Newcastle made just two changes, one enforced by injury and the other seeing their new £50million signing come into the side.
In a short space of time, Jaissle has already found the basis of a settled side, and that showed as Newcastle looked like a team getting used to their manager's demands and thriving in the aggressive way he wants to play. Tottenham looked disjointed and a team full of square pegs in round holes, and Newcastle took full advantage.
Spurs record continues
Newcastle have got the better of Spurs in their recent contests. The Magpies are now unbeaten in the last six Premier League matches between the two teams, outscoring Spurs with 14 goals for and five against. They also managed to keep Omar Marmoush at bay, with the former Manchester City forward boasting seven goals from five appearances against the Magpies.
