Goals

1-0: Giroud (15, rose above the Magpies defence to head Sanchez’s cross high beyond Alnwick);

2-0: Cazorla (54, lovely chipped finish across Alnwick after being picked out by Sanchez);

3-0: Giroud (58, arrived at the near post to flick Bellerin’s low centre beyond Alnwick)

3-1: Perez (63, dived low inside the area to meet Colback’s free-kick with a lovely header inside the far post)

4-1: Cazorla pen (88, chipped his spot-kick down the middle after Welbeck had been brought down by Dummett)

Bookings: Bellerin (37, foul); Tiote (58, foul); Janmaat (82, dissent)

Referee: Lee Mason (Stockport) – could have sent Tiote off early on but other than that got the majority of decisions right. 7

Attendance: 59,949

Entertainment: 3/5

ARSENAL (4-1-4-1): Szczesny 7; Bellerin 8, Debuchy 6, Mertesacker 7, Gibbs 6; Flamini 6; SANCHEZ 8 (Coquelin 87), Oxlade-Chamberlain 7 (Maitland-Niles 90), Cazorla 8, Welbeck 6; Giroud 8 (Podolski 73). Subs (not used): Sanogo, Martinez (gk), Campbell, Ajayi.

NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-2-3-1):

5 Alnwick: Held a few things in his direction without ever really having a chance with the four goals;

4 Janmaat: Struggled to deal with Arsenal’s advances and beaten in the air for first goal

3 Williamson: Given the runaround by the Gunners forwards and relieved to hear the final whistle

4 Coloccini: Arguably the best of the defenders but that wasn’t saying much

3 Dummett: Faced with the pace of Bellerin and the excellence of Sanchez down his flank;

6 Colback: His free-kicks caused problems and created Perez’s consolation for the Magpies

4 Tiote: Grew in frustration as the game wore on and fortunate just to pick up the one caution;

7 PEREZ: Looked eager to get on the ball whenever he could and took his goal well again

3 Ameobi: Started behind Cisse, then switched wide, but still lacked composure

3 Gouffran: Never got to grips with the Gunners and often second to the ball;

4 Cisse: Started quite positively but faded after missing a good rebound chance from close range.

Subs:

Riviere (for Ameobi 55): Hardly got involved in the final third. 4

Cabella (for Cisse 55): Failed to have the impact required. 4

Armstrong (for Perez 82)

(not used): Anita, Haidara, Vuckic, Woodman (gk)

MAN OF THE MATCH

ALEXIS Sanchez – proved his quality yet again for the Gunners with a brilliant display in the final third.