Newcastle United came from one goal behind to record a 2-1 win over Arsenal at St James's Park on Sunday afternoon.
Alexandre Lacazette had sent the Gunners ahead in the 14th minute, but Ayoze Perez levelled the scores before Matt Ritchie won it in the second period for a Magpies side who have overcome Arsenal in a home Premier League game for the first time since December 2005.
Newcastle have now won their last four Premier League matches, and the victory has moved them onto 41 points - 13 points clear of the relegation zone. Arsenal, meanwhile, stay in sixth position as their poor away form continued.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Afternoon all! Sports Mole's live Premier League coverage continues from St James's Park as Newcastle United welcome a revitalised Arsenal. Both of these teams have won their last three Premier League matches, and the Magpies are now eyeing a top-half finish after overcoming their relegation fears. Stay tuned for what should be an entertaining game of football!
The omens are not exactly great for Newcastle when considering that they have lost each of the last 10 Premier League matches between the two teams. The Magpies have not beaten Arsenal since they won at the Emirates Stadium in November 2010, and have not actually recorded a home victory over the Gunners since December 2005, which is an incredible run of form at this level of football.
Each of the last three Premier League matches between the two teams have ended in a 1-0 Arsenal win. Indeed, a Mesut Ozil goal decided the contest at the Emirates Stadium earlier this season. Something has to give this afternoon as two teams in really good form lock horns in the North of England.
Right, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news. Newcastle have had a free week to prepare for this match, but Arsenal were in Europa League action on Thursday night – drawing 2-2 at CSKA Moscow in the second leg of their quarter-final as they progressed on aggregate. Any changes? Let's run through the two XIs for this contest...
TEAMS!
NEWCASTLE: Dubravka; Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Dummett; Kenedy, Shelvey, Diame, Ritchie; Perez; Gayle
ARSENAL: Cech; Chambers, Mustafi, Holding, Monreal; Elneny, Willock, Xhaka; Iwobi, Aubameyang; Lacazette
Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez has named an unchanged team from the one that started last weekend's 2-1 victory at Leicester City. As a result, Ayoze Perez will again support Dwight Gayle in the final third, with Kenedy and Matt Ritchie in the wide positions. Jonjo Shelvey's recent form has led to talk of an England call-up, and the 26-year-old continues in the Magpies midfield this afternoon.
As for Arsenal, there is a Premier League debut for 18-year-old midfielder Joe Willock as Arsene Wenger shuffles his pack. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette both start in the final third for the Gunners, while there are also positions in the XI for Calum Chambers and Rob Holding. The likes of Mesut Ozil, Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey are not in the Arsenal squad here.
So there we have it. The two teams are in, and we are now just about 40 minutes from kickoff at St James's Park. I shall speak about Newcastle a little bit later, but let's start with Arsenal. As mentioned, the Gunners booked their spot in the semi-finals of the Europa League courtesy of a 6-3 aggregate victory over CSKA Moscow, and they will take on Atletico Madrid in the final four.
Arsenal need to win the Europa League to secure Champions League football for the 2018-19 campaign. Indeed, the Gunners might have won their last three Premier League matches, but they are 13 points off fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, and are seemingly battling Chelsea for fifth position.
Arsenal lost four straight matches between February 22 and March 4, and Arsene Wenger's position as head coach was under serious threat during that terrible run of form. The Gunners have responded very well to win their last seven matches in all competitions, however, including a 3-2 victory over a struggling Southampton at the Emirates Stadium last weekend.
There is no getting away from the fact that it has been another disappointing Premier League season for Arsenal, and it remains to be seen whether Wenger walks away this summer. It would be an absolute disaster if the London club failed to finish the campaign with the Europa League title.
As for Newcastle, the Magpies were in a heap of trouble when they suffered a 2-0 defeat at Liverpool towards the start of last month. Rafael Benitez's side have responded so impressively, however, winning each of their last three in the Premier League to rise into 10th position in the table.
A 3-0 win over Southampton at St James's Park on March 10 sent Newcastle on their way, before overcoming Huddersfield Town on March 31. Benitez's side then recorded a 2-1 victory at Leicester City last weekend, and they will be looking to put another three points on the board here.
Newcastle's home form this season has been a little bit inconsistent when considering that they have won six, drawn four and lost six of their 16 Premier League fixtures at St James's Park. As mentioned above, the Magpies have an absolute rotten recent record against Arsenal, but the Gunners are there for the taking here as they focus on the Europa League. Kickoff is now just 10 minutes away here!
Here we go then; both sets of players are in the tunnel ahead of kickoff this afternoon. Newcastle will be looking to close the gap on ninth-placed Everton to a single point, while sixth-placed Arsenal have fifth-placed Chelsea in their sights. Should be an open match! Stay tuned for live coverage of the action.
KICKOFF! Newcastle get things underway here...
... it must be said that there is a wonderful atmosphere inside the stadium this afternoon. The Newcastle fans are feeling pretty good about their team at the moment, and why not! Arsenal have a terrific record against the Magpies, however, and will be looking to record another three points.
It has been a really good start from Newcastle, with Lascelles's header from a deep Shelvey free kick being deflected behind for the first corner of the match. The Magpies play it short before Shelvey delivers, but it is too deep for Ritchie, and Arsenal resume with a throw deep in their own half here.
Half-chance for the away side as Lacazette works some space on the edge of the Newcastle box before looking to pick out the bottom corner, but the striker drags his effort wide of the post.
Bit of a mix-up at the back for Arsenal as Elneny loses the ball in a dangerous area, but Newcastle cannot fashion a shooting chance, and the away side manage to clear their lines once again.
Bit of possession for Arsenal as they look to quieten the vocal home support here.
Cech is down to keep out a long-range and indeed ambitious Kenedy strike.
Holding looks to pick out the run of Iwobi with a long-range pass, but the centre-back put too much weight on the ball, and Newcastle can resume the play with a goal kick. Still goalless here.
Ritchie delivers a dangerous cross into the Arsenal box, but Newcastle do not really have that presence in the final third, and Chambers wins the header above Magpies forward Ayoze Perez.
GOAL! Newcastle 0-1 Arsenal (Lacazette)
Arsenal make the breakthrough in the 14th minute as Aubameyang delivers a super cross into the Newcastle box, and Lacazette is on hand to fire home on the stretch. Really good Arsenal goal here.
Newcastle have a free kick in a dangerous area as Chambers brings Kenedy to the deck...
... Shelvey bends one into the Arsenal box, but Cech gathers.
Aubameyang drives into the Newcastle box before cutting inside and having a go, but the ball was always rising over the crossbar. The former Dortmund striker might have looked for the pass.
Aubameyang's strike actually hit the hand of Lascelles before flying over the crossbar - might have been a plenty for the visitors there. Newcastle are finding it difficult to stop the flow of pressure.
SAVE! Newcastle's goalkeeper is down to keep out a poked Iwobi effort.
Newcastle just need to be careful here as Arsenal continue to pass and probe in the final third of the field. Aubameyang is causing problems with his pace and movement down the left for the hosts.
We have not seen an awful lot from Newcastle going forward since Arsenal made the breakthrough, and it does appear that the Gunners fancy their chances of adding a second during this period.
Kenedy and Shelvey are the two Newcastle players that look capable of making something happen, but Arsenal are still having a lot of the ball as they continue to pass and move. Chambers delivers a low cross into the Newcastle box, and Lascelles does really well to clear behind for a corner kick.
GOAL! Newcastle 1-1 Arsenal (Perez)
Newcastle level the scores in the 29th minute as Gayle gathers a long ball before delivering wide to Yedlin, who flashes a low cross into the Arsenal box, and Perez is on hand to turn home at the near post! It is a really super goal from the home side, and we are all level in the 29th minute of action.
Little over 10 minutes of the first period remaining, and it has been a super game thus far.
Willock is a touch fortunate to escape a yellow card following a late challenge on Perez, who was breaking away from the Arsenal midfielder. The game is very much back in Newcastle's favour here.
Arsenal continue to work the ball down the left, with Aubameyang certainly causing problems. The Gunners are struggling to carve out clear chances at the moment though. Still 1-1 at St James's Park.
CHANCE! Big chance for Arsenal as Chambers meets a header from Mustafi, but the defender fires wide of the post. In fairness, it was a really tough chance for the Englishman.
Chambers heads over the Newcastle crossbar following a corner from the right.
CHANCE! Big chance for Arsenal as Lacazette takes the ball away from Diame in midfield before delivering a pass into Willock, but the midfielder gets it horribly wrong!
I suspect that Newcastle boss Benitez will be pleased with what he has seem from his side in the first 45 minutes. Arsenal have had a number of chances, but it has been an even game for long spells.
HALF-TIME: Newcastle 1-1 Arsenal
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with the two teams level at 1-1. Arsenal took the lead in the 14th minute courtesy of a fine finish from Lacazette, but Newcastle were level 15 minutes later when Perez turned a low Yedlin cross into the corner of the net. All square!
STATISTICS! Arsenal dominated the first-half possession with 71%, while they had 10 attempts - three of which were on target. Newcastle, meanwhile, hit the target with each of their three attempts. No yellow cards to report in the first 45 minutes; to be honest, it has not been that type of match.
BENCH WATCH! Arsenal are without the services of Ozil and Ramsey this afternoon, but Nelson and Welbeck are among the substitutes for the away side this afternoon. As for Newcastle, head coach Rafael Benitez has Murphy, Joselu and Slimani in reserve. I suspect that the latter would fancy his chances of causing Arsenal some problems if Ritchie and Kenedy can deliver high balls into the box.
RESTART! Arsenal resume the action here...
... no changes from either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise. However, I suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind as the second period gathers pace here.
It has been a good start to the second period from Arsenal, with Newcastle dropping deep in a bid to overcome this spell of pressure. You do get the feeling that the next goal could be crucial here.
Newcastle continue to play a lot of long balls towards Gayle, and just wonder whether Slimani could make a difference off the bench in the second period. Still 1-1 with 51 minutes on the clock here.
Diame nicks the ball away in a dangerous position before feeding Perez, who drives into the Arsenal box, but the Gunners have players back, and eventually manage to make the clearance.
Not an awful lot to report in terms of chances in the early stages of the second period, but Newcastle are having more of the ball following a decent start from Arsenal. It is very finely balanced here.
Aubameyang heads down towards Lacazette inside the Newcastle box, but Lascelles is on hand to make the clearance. Little over 30 minutes of football remaining, and we remain locked at 1-1.
Pass, pass, pass from Arsenal as they look to work some space in the final third, but Newcastle are nice and compact at the back. We are just entering the period of the match where both managers will be thinking about alterations. Newcastle have more attacking options on their bench than Arsenal.
We have still not had a single yellow card in this match; to be honest, it has not been that type of contest. Ritchie is perhaps a touch fortunate to escape following a late challenge on Monreal.
Islam Slimani is getting ready to enter the field here, and that is not a surprise. The big centre-forward could have some joy against Arsenal's two centre-backs as the second half develops.
NEWCASTLE SUB! Slimani replaces Gayle for the home side.
Ritchie hits one from the edge of the Arsenal box, but his effort was always too high.
Iwobi swings one just wide of the Newcastle post following a good spell of pressure from Arsenal. You do get the feeling that the next goal - if there indeed is one - would be the winner here.
ARSENAL SUB! Welbeck replaces Willock for the away side.
GOAL! Newcastle 2-1 Arsenal (Ritchie)
Newcastle take the lead in the 68th minute as Slimani's towering header is flicked into the path of Ritchie by Perez, and the Scotland international finds the back of the net with a calm finish!
Little over 20 minutes of football remaining, and it has been a decent response from Arsenal as they continue to move the ball with pace and purpose in the final third of the field here.
Kenedy drives into the Arsenal box as Newcastle break forward once again, but Mustafi is across to make a smart challenge. The Gunners then break straight down the other end of the field.
CHANCE! Perez hits the side-netting following excellent work from Slimani out wide!
ARSENAL SUB! Maitland-Niles replaces Chambers for the away side.
NEWCASTLE SUB! Perez is replaced by Joselu for the home side.
Newcastle have not won a home Premier League game against Arsenal for 13 years, but they are little under 10 minutes away from achieving just that. Arsenal currently have possession of the football.
Good spell for Arsenal at the moment as they continue to put the pressure on.
You do get the feeling that there is another goal in this match, and it would be tough on Newcastle when considering how impressive they have been in the last 20 minutes or so here.
Lacazette hits the side-netting as Arsenal continue to put the pressure on here.
NEWCASTLE SUB! Murphy replaces Ritchie for the home side.
ARSENAL SUB! Nketiah replaces Iwobi for the away side.
Pass, pass, pass from Arsenal as they look to snatch a late point in this match.
Arsenal continue to deliver high balls into the Newcastle box, but the home side clear their lines once again, before winning a goal kick when Diame shepherds the ball behind. Not long left now!
We are into the first of three additional minutes at the end of the 90.
BOOKING! Slimani (Newcastle) is booked for dissent.
Kenedy smashes a Monreal cross clear of his own box as Newcastle clear their lines. Welbeck then has a shot blocked as Arsenal look for the grandstand finish to this match.
FULL-TIME: Newcastle 2-1 Arsenal
So there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with Newcastle overcoming Arsenal in front of their own supporters. It is Newcastle's fourth straight Premier League win, and all but secures their spot in next season's top flight! Thanks for joining our live coverage once again!
