Transformed from the passive side beaten in Porto on Wednesday night and inspired by wingers Saka and Gabriel Martinelli who had struggled in that Champions League tie, Arsenal were electric from the first whistle. “Individually today we were outstanding,” said boss Mikel Arteta afterwards. “We raised the bar again. They are well coached, Newcastle, it’s difficult to do what we did today and make them suffer.”
The home side were deservedly two up inside 24 minutes. Loris Karius, the surprise selection in goal for Newcastle with Martin Dubravka ill, had little protection on his first Premier League appearance in almost six years. He was unable to force away Gabriel’s header from a corner which was knocked into his own goal by Sven Botman and completely exposed when Martinelli cut back for Kai Havertz to stroke in the second.
The visitors eventually found something of a foothold in the second half – but were swiftly hit by another double blow, with Saka cutting back on his left and cracking in a super strike before Jakub Kiwior forced home a header from another corner off Lewis Miley, which Karius could only fumble on its way through.
There was a late consolation for the travelling fans to cheer when Joe Willock headed in against his former club with six minutes to play. It was Newcastle’s first goal at Arsenal in over nine years. But defeat leaves them eighth, 15 points off the top four and 10 behind fifth-placed Tottenham.
Player ratings
Arsenal: Raya (7); White (7), Saliba (7), Gabriel (8), Kiwior (7); Rice (7), Odegaard (7), Jorginho (8); Saka (8), Havertz (8), Martinelli (8)
Subs used: Trossard (6), Smith Rowe (6), Nketiah (6), Nelson (6), Elneny (N/A)
Newcastle: Karius (5), Trippier (5), Schar (5), Botman (5), Livramento (5), Longstaff (5), Guimaraes (5), Miley (5), Almiron (6), Gordon (6), Isak (6)
Subs used: Barnes (6), Murphy (6), Willock (7), Lascelles (6), Burn (7)
Player of the match: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
