Alan Pardew defends Jak Alnwick performance

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has admitted that Jak Alnwick was at fault for the second of Arsenal's four goals in Saturday's defeat at the Emirates Stadium.

The 21-year-old goalkeeper made his first Premier League start in the 4-1 reversal due to injuries to Tim Krul and Rob Elliot.

Pardew says that, despite the occasional error, he was impressed with Alnwick's performance.

"I can probably look at one goal as Jak maybe at fault," the Shields Gazette quotes Pardew as saying.

"The second, he might have wanted to stay in his goal a bit longer without coming out. Other than that, I thought he was pretty sound.

"A few times it flashed across and he got little touches. He kicked it well, looked assured. I can't lay any blame at his door for this result and he goes to the next game."

Newcastle are eighth in the Premier League table following the defeat.