Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle United: Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli sink Eddie Howe's side

Arsenal eventually broke Newcastle United down to leave Eddie Howe's side bottom of the Premier League without a win.

Howe, in the Magpies dugout for the first time after missing last weekend's 3-3 draw with Brentford because of Covid, set up a team to try to contain Arsenal and eke out a point.

It appeared as if the strategy might be working until Bukayo Saka slotted home from Nuno Tavares' through ball in the second half.

Saka went off injured and his replacement Gabriel Martinelli scored with his second touch, a wonderful volley from Takehiro Tomiyasu's clipped pass over the top.

Both sides had hit the woodwork in an otherwise uninspiring first half.

Jonjo Shelvey's long-range drive was tipped on to the bar by the diving Aaron Ramsdale - and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit a sitter off the post from six yards out.

Arsenal remain fifth in the Premier League, while Newcastle are five points adrift of safety with just over a third of the season gone.

A lot to do for Howe and Newcastle

Newcastle are on their longest ever winless run from the start of a league season. Only one side has ever stayed up in the Premier League after failing to win their opening 13 games - Derby County in 2000-01.

The Magpies know the further adrift they are on 1 January, when they have a chance to spend some of their Saudi owners' money, the harder it will be to attract quality players.

It is unlikely though that Howe will have identified Emirates Stadium as a place to pick up points. The Gunners have won their past 10 home games against Newcastle in all competitions, and have never lost a Premier League home game against the team bottom of the table.

The side he put out looked attacking on paper but on the actual pitch they sat in and tried to frustrate Arsenal.

Shelvey was their main threat when they went forward with five of their nine efforts on goal, including a fine strike tipped on to the crossbar by Ramsdale.

Callum Wilson was isolated up front, with only 13 touches, but he felt he should have had a penalty when he was nudged over by Tavares in the box.

But eventually Arsenal's quality showed when Saka finished off a nice passing move, which also involved himself, Emile Smith Rowe and Tavares.

Martinelli's glorious volley past the onrushing Martin Dubravka - making his first Newcastle appearance of the season - wrapped things up.

Arsenal are back to winning ways now, after last weekend's 4-0 thrashing by Liverpool ended a 10-game unbeaten run.

They should have won by more, with 23 shots - including Aubameyang hitting the upright after Dubravka had parried Smith Rowe's header when a goal looked inevitable.

Next up for Newcastle is the big one on Tuesday, as they host second-from-bottom Norwich City. They will have to do so without captain Jamaal Lascelles and Matt Ritchie, who both picked up their fifth bookings of the season at the Emirates.

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Arsenal

Newcastle United

Squad number1Player nameDúbravka

Squad number17Player nameKrafth

Squad number6Player nameLascelles

Squad number5Player nameSchär

Squad number11Player nameRitchie

Squad number21Player nameFraser

Squad number8Player nameShelvey

Squad number28Player nameWillock

Squad number10Player nameSaint-Maximin

Squad number9Player nameWilson

Squad number7Player nameJoelinton

Squad number14Player nameHayden

Squad number23Player nameMurphy

Squad number24Player nameAlmirón

Line-ups

Arsenal

Formation 4-4-1-1

32Ramsdale

18Tomiyasu4White6Gabriel20Varela Tavares

7Saka5Partey23Sambi Lokonga10Smith Rowe

8Ødegaard

14Aubameyang

Substitutes

Newcastle

Formation 4-4-2

1Dúbravka

17Krafth6Lascelles5Schär11Ritchie

21Fraser8Shelvey28Willock10Saint-Maximin

9Wilson7Joelinton

Substitutes

Live Text

Match ends, Arsenal 2, Newcastle United 0.

Second Half ends, Arsenal 2, Newcastle United 0.

Corner, Newcastle United. Conceded by Aaron Ramsdale.

Benjamin White (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Callum Wilson (Newcastle United).

Attempt missed. Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Takehiro Tomiyasu.

Substitution, Newcastle United. Isaac Hayden replaces Jonjo Shelvey.

Attempt blocked. Emile Smith Rowe (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Mohamed Elneny.

Attempt saved. Allan Saint-Maximin (Newcastle United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Fabian Schär.

Substitution, Arsenal. Mohamed Elneny replaces Thomas Partey.

Attempt saved. Joseph Willock (Newcastle United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Allan Saint-Maximin.

Attempt missed. Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Gabriel Martinelli following a fast break.

Attempt blocked. Jonjo Shelvey (Newcastle United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jacob Murphy.

Offside, Newcastle United. Ryan Fraser tries a through ball, but Fabian Schär is caught offside.

Substitution, Arsenal. Alexandre Lacazette replaces Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Foul by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal).

Miguel Almirón (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Corner, Newcastle United. Conceded by Gabriel Magalhães.

Attempt blocked. Fabian Schär (Newcastle United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

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