Arsenal vs. Newcastle United: Score, Grades and Reaction from Premier League

Arsenal 4-1 Newcastle United

Olivier Giroud scored twice to inspire Arsenal to victory over Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium and ease the pressure on manager Arsene Wenger.

The France international began and finished a smart 15th-minute move to open the scoring for the Gunners, who carried on the fine form of the midweek Champions League win at Galatasaray.

Newcastle threatened to get back into the game as the first half progressed, but a superb double stop from Wojciech Szczesny kept the Gunners in front at the break.

Santi Cazorla added a second for Arsenal with an angled chip in the 54th minute, before Giroud neatly side-footed home with the outside of his boot four minutes later.

The three-goal advantage buried the bad memories of last week's defeat at Stoke City, and Wenger's name was chanted around the Emirates Stadium towards the end of the match.

Ayoze Perez pulled a goal back for Newcastle in the 63rd minute, but Cazorla wrapped up the points with a Panenka-style penalty in the 88th minute.

Arsene Wenger made three changes to his team, with Szczesny, Mathieu Debuchy and Danny Welbeck returned to the starting line-up in place of Emiliano Martinez, Calum Chambers and Aaron Ramsey.

Jak Alnwick made his first Premier League start for Newcastle, while Mike Williamson, Yoan Gouffran and Papiss Cisse also returned to the team.

There was an early moment of controversy when Cheick Tiote put his boot into the chest of Alexis Sanchez, but referee Lee Mason didn't call a foul. 

Per Mertesacker almost gave the Gunners an eighth-minute lead, but his header from a corner struck the underside of the crossbar and bounced clear of danger.

In the 15th minute, though, Arsenal were ahead. Fabricio Coloccini played a ball too short, allowing Hector Bellerin to pounce and find Giroud, who played the ball wide to Alexis Sanchez.

The Chile international progressed to the by-line before crossing back into the area where the French striker rose to head home.

Arsenal appeared to have a second goal moments later when Welbeck chipped Alnwick from an angle, but was adjudged to have fouled Daryl Janmaat in the build-up.

Bellerin was looking a lively presence for the Gunners, and the 19-year-old produced a great run in the 28th minute which almost threatened the Newcastle goal.

Another great passing move by Arsenal in the 32nd minute resulted in Sanchez lifting the ball over the Newcastle defence for Welbeck to latch on to, but the England international was just wide with his volley.

The home side had looked comfortable in the opening half-hour, but a 34th-minute Jack Colback free-kick gave them some food for thought.

The set-piece delivery was delivered into the Arsenal box and Szczesny produced a fine block to deny a Gouffran header before making it a double stop to prevent Cisse prodding home the rebound.

Bellerin blotted his fine first-half copybook with a yellow card in the 37th minute for a foul on Paul Dummett.

The Newcastle defender was then fortunate not to concede a penalty for a collision with Sanchez moments later.

The Magpies were back in the game and it was a subdued Emirates Stadium at half-time after an excellent opening 20 minutes for the home side.

But in the 54th minute, Arsenal were two goals up. Sanchez lifted the ball into the path of Cazorla, who was breaking into the left-side channel. The midfielder rode a challenge from Coloccini before angling a chipped ball over Alnwick to make it 2-0.

"

Giroud makes it 1-0 to the Arsenal. #AFC https://t.co/F3XHKA3rQs

— 6 Second Savage (@6secondsavage) December 13, 2014"

Four minutes later, Giroud added his second and Arsenal's third. After breaking up a Newcastle counter-attack, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain found Bellerin on the right, and his low cross to the near post was turned home by the striker with the outside of his left boot.

"

Cazorla gets his first goal from open play for 29 games. #AFC https://t.co/VKVdCRZH2f

— 6 Second Savage (@6secondsavage) December 13, 2014"

Newcastle clawed a goal back in the 63rd minute when a Colback free-kick was headed home by Perez to set up an intriguing end to the game.

Wenger opted to bring Giroud off in the 73rd minute, and the France international left the field to an ovation from the home fans as he was replaced by Lukas Podolski.

The manager, who was abused by a minority of supporters on his way home from the defeat at Stoke last weekend, was the subject of more-supportive chants around the Emirates as the game approached its end.

And Cazorla ended a successful 90 minutes for Arsenal and Wenger when he cheekily chipped his penalty home after Welbeck had been felled by Dummett.

Selected Player Rankings

Olivier Giroud: A+

A tremendous swashbuckling first-half display from the Arsenal striker, who scored a superb headed opener and clever side-footed finish in the second period in an energetic performance for the Gunners.

Jak Alnwick: B+

Could do little to prevent Arsenal's goal. Held his ground well for Cazorla's goal, but the midfielder was too cute with his angled strike. But rarely tested beyond the goals.

Wojciech Szczesny: A

Produced a terrific double save to deny Gouffran and Cisse in the first period. Those stops proved crucial as Arsenal extended their lead in the second half.

What's ahead

Arsenal return to action on Sunday next weekend when they travel to Liverpool in the Premier League.

Newcastle are back in the English capital on Wednesday when they face Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane in the Capital One Cup.

Post-Match Reaction