Aaron Ramsey and Alexandre Lacazette struck as Arsenal beat Newcastle United 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Monday evening to move up to third in the Premier League.
The Gunners opened the scoring 30 minutes in when Ramsey steered a first-time finish in off the post, shortly after having a goal ruled out.
Lacazette added a second for the hosts late on as they made it 10 home league victories in a row for the first time in more than two decades.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Arsenal and Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners can climb above Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur into third place with victory this evening.
Unai Emery's side have won their last nine top-flight home games and have a chance to match their record of 10, set in 1997-98, with three more points today.
Newcastle, meanwhile, likely need just one more victory to make certain of another season of Premier League football.
ARSENAL TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Leno; Sokratis, Mustafi, Monreal; Maitland-Niles, Guendouzi, Ramsey, Kolasinac; Iwobi, Ozil; Lacazette
SUBS: Cech, Elneny, Mkhitaryan, Aubameyang, Suarez, Jenkinson, Nketiah
NEWCASTLE UNITED TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Dubravka; Lejeune, Lascelles, Dummett; Yedlin, Hayden, Diame, Ritchie; Perez, Almiron; Rondon
SUBS: Darlow, Ki, Shelvey, Muto, Kenedy, Fernandez, Manquillo
KICKOFF: Arsenal show three changes from their most recent outing, bringing in Mustafi, Guendouzi and Iwobi for Koscielny, Xhaka and the benched Aubameyang. It is Newcastle who get us underway at the Emirates Stadium!
Lacazette is already trying to work the channels, drifting out to the left in an attempt to drag Newcastle's defenders out. The two sides are effectively lining up in the same formation today, though Arsenal will of course be a lot more attack minded.
Arsenal have started this match with a good tempo. Maitland-Niles tries to making something happen down the right but his crowded out. Newcastle are already dropping deep - never a good sign so early into a match.
The Gunners are knocking the ball around with ease in the Newcastle half of the field, but the visitors have done well to keep Lacazette, Ozil and Iwobi quiet in the areas of the field where it matters. Benitez's tactics are always pretty obvious to call against the big six, especially away from home.
Newcastle have a rare chance to get the ball into the opposition box, but the deep free kick from Ritchie is hooked clear by Guendouzi. Arsenal come again, passing the ball out from the back and into United's half of the field. The problem, though, is they are struggling to create anything.
Lacazette is now out on the right exchanging passes with Maitland-Niles. Newcastle have done very well to restrict the Gunners, forcing them to pass it all the way back. United turn over possession and Guendouzi gives away a free kick.
Nearly a quarter of an hour has been played at the Emirates Stadium and we are still waiting for the first shot of note. Newcastle are starting to show a little more attacking intent.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Koscielny flicks the ball on at the front post and Ramsey, as he so often does, ghosts in unmarked to smash the ball past Dubravka from close range. However, the referee rules out the goal for an alleged foul from Sokratis on Lejeune.
That was very silly from experienced defender Sokratis, as he got hold of Lejeune's shirt and gave the referee a reason to rule out Ramsey's well-taken strike. United have to use that as a warning.
A cross into the Newcastle box from the left is easily gathered by Dubravka. Ramsey's disallowed goal aside, Arsenal have offered very little attacking threat so far. Still, with three quarters of the game to go you'd expect them to find a way through.
STAT! Arsenal have won their last six home Premier League games against Newcastle United, scoring 18 goals and conceding just five. Newcastle have lost 11 of their last 12 Premier League matches against today's opponents, winning the other 2-1 at St. James' Park last season.
Arsenal have had 71% of the ball in the opening 20 minutes, but they have yet to have a single shot of any sort. Ramsey did find a way through, but only after Sokratis had committed a foul inside the box to see his goal ruled out.
Ramsey drives forward with the ball and, after Iwobi slows play, he gets a good cross into the middle. Wales international teammate Dummett clears it to safety, but United are not really being given a moment's rest.
The only real point of discussion so far was referee Anthony Taylor's decision to rule out Ramsey's goal. There was definite contact from Sokratis on Lejeune and, while the Newcastle man did make the most of it, it appeared to be the right call from the officials.
SHOT! Arsenal swarm forward in numbers, with Ramsey again leading the charge, but they hit a brick wall. Diame does well to temporarily get rid of the ball, but it comes back into the box through Iwobi's cross and Lacazette guides it wide with his head.
Another cross into the middle from the left is headed clear. Arsenal will have to find a different route through if they are to pick up the win required to leapfrog the two sides above them. A little more intensity is needed.
Mustafi fouls Rondon and Newcastle are able to regather as the free kick is awarded. Benitez will be happy that his side have played half an hour without conceding.
GOAL! ARSENAL 1-0 NEWCASTLE UNITED (AARON RAMSEY)
Ramsey, who had a goal disallowed a little earlier in the half, opens the scoring for the Gunners through their first serious attempt. The Welshman flicks the ball into Lacazette's feet and a fortunate deflection off a Newcastle player allows him to sweep it past Dubravka with a first-time finish off the post.
SAVE! Rondon nods the ball past Sokratis and decides to have a go at goal, despite the angle being against him. It is not the worst attempt, forcing Leno into a save down low. All of a sudden this game has burst into life
Arsenal had upped the tempo in the five minutes leading up to their goal but they have dropped off again since then, allowing Newcastle to see more of the ball. Rondon had that on-target attempt a couple of minutes ago - that has to be considered a warning for the Gunners.
STAT! Ramsey has been directly involved in 10 Premier League goals for Arsenal this season, scoring four and assisting six - the fourth season he has provided at least 10 goal involvements for the Gunners. And those in charge at the Emirates felt he was not worthy of a contract on improved terms!
This is a good spell of sustained pressure for Arsenal. Lacazette is unable to get a clean shot on goal and Ramsey's attempt is blocked. It is eventually worked to the back post and headed back across goal, but Dubravka collects.
This is almost a top-class goal from Arsenal. Ozil is at the heart of it, acting as the link between Iwobi and Kolasinac. The latter gets a cross towards the front post but Ozil cannot quite make contact and Dubravka gets down to collect.
Arsenal have played some delightful football in this first half. Another positive attack ends with a player over in the box, but the end product is lacking. For all their impressive play, the Gunners are only a goal to the good - they could do with another.
Newcastle are enjoying the odd spell on the ball but they need to offer more in the second half if they are to find a way through. Up the other end, Kolasinac overhits his attempted through-ball for Ramsey and Dubravka is there.
OFF THE LINE! This is an unbelievable block from Ritchie to keep his side in the game. Unlike their previous attacking moves, this one almost ends in a goal for the Gunners as Lacazette turns in the box and nearly finds the back of the net, but Ritchie is stood on the line and heads it away from goal.
HALF TIME: ARSENAL 1-0 NEWCASTLE UNITED
Arsenal take a deserved one-goal lead into half time thanks to Ramsey's strike half an hour in. The Gunners have been dominant throughout but they have had just one other attempt on target, with Ritchie blocking Lacazette's effort on the line right at the end of the half.
➡️ PLAYER STATS
Arsenal thought that they had opened the scoring 13 minutes in, only for referee Anthony Taylor to rule out Aaron Ramsey's close-range finish, after Laurent Koscielny had flicked the ball on at the front post, for Sokratis Papastathopoulos's tug on Florian Lejeune.
For all of Arsenal's possession in the opening 25 minutes, all they had to show for it was Alexandre Lacazette's glanced header wide from 10 yards. The Gunners did manage to find a way through on the half-hour mark, though, and it was once again Ramsey who finished off the move - the 10th league goal he has been involved in this term.
The Welshman flicked the ball into Lacazette's path and it deflected back to him off a Newcastle player, giving him the chance to guide it away from Martin Dubravka with a first-time finish off the far post. United were almost level a minute or so later through their only serious attack of the first half, as Solomon Rondon headed the ball past Sokratis and tested Bernd Leno at his near post, despite the angle being against him.
Arsenal played some impressive football in the first half and they deserved a second before the interval, which they almost scored through Lacazette right at the end, though his shot on the turn was headed off the line by Matt Ritchie. With the second period just a few moments away, here is a reminder of both sides' benches...
ARSENAL SUBS: Cech, Elneny, Mkhitaryan, Aubameyang, Suarez, Jenkinson, Nketiah
NEWCASTLE UNITED SUBS: Darlow, Ki, Shelvey, Muto, Kenedy, Fernandez, Manquillo
KICKOFF: Arsenal, heading into third place as things stand, get us back underway at the Emirates Stadium!
It has been a fairly balanced start to the second half. Arsenal are already having to do more defending than they did in the first half, but they are also looking lively when they get on the ball in the opposite half of the field. There is surely another goal or two in this match.
There is a stoppage in play as Maitland-Niles, who has struggled with injuries this season, is down and shaking his head. It looks as though Emery will be forced into a change early in the second half, with Jenkinson warming up.
Maitland-Niles, injured trying to stop Ritchie accelerating past him, is back on the field for the time being. It has been a fairly slow start to the second half - can Arsenal step push back through the gears?
A couple of nearly moments for Arsenal. Kolasinac's cross is well handled by Dubravka, who has Lacazette waiting to pounce on the loose ball. Before that, Ozil got in behind but he was unable to pick out a teammate with his cross.
It looks as though Maitland-Niles has recovered from that knock as he is still on the field. Arsenal are probing away but they are struggling to kill Newcastle off. The home fans will start getting a bit nervous if it stays this way.
YELLOW CARD! Ozil chases down a lofted ball over the top but he is unable to get on the end of it. Arsenal supporters are frustrated as Monreal is cautioned for lunging in on Almiron with his studs showing. The referee made the correct call, in my opinion.
ARSENAL SUB! Lacazette shoves Perez off the ball inside the penalty area, but the ball had already gone out of play - talk about taking a risk! Emery has made the first change of the evening by bringing on Aubameyang for Iwobi in attack.
Much like the first half, the second period has taken time to get going. There has yet to be a shot of any sort since the restart, though Arsenal are regularly just one pass away from finding a way through on goal.
PENALTY APPEAL! Lacazette gets away from Dummett but the Wales international recovers well to concede a corner. The ball bounced up and hit Dummett on the arm, though, so Arsenal feel they should have had a penalty. It would have been a harsh one had it been awarded.
CLOSE! Sokratis rises above Lejeune but powers his header wide of the target from the corner. Arsenal may rue failing to take one of their opportunities as Newcastle could quite easily snatch a goal of their own.
SUBS! Newcastle bring on Ki for former Arsenal player Hayden in their first change of the evening. The Gunners also make a change, and it is an enforced one as Ramsey has picked up an injury and is replaced by Elneny.
With a Europa League quarter-final against Napoli on the horizon, Emery will be hoping that injury Ramsey has picked up is nothing serious. Aubameyang surges down the right but his cross towards Lacazette is cut out by Dubravka.
Mustafi initially does very well to get away from his man and create some space down the right, but his cross is a contender for the worst of the season as he miscues it into the stands. Even Aubameyang had a little smile at that!
YELLOW CARD! The match has gone a bit quiet again now. Not sure which side that suits, in truth, as Arsenal are the side leading but they will want a second goal heading into the final 10 minutes. It could be a tense finale here, as Diame goes into the book for a challenge on Ozil.
SAVE! Kolasinac has also been shown a yellow card by the referee for something he said. Arsenal have upped things again over the last couple of minutes, with Aubameyang getting on the end of Ozil's perfectly-weighted pass but failing to get the better of Dubravka.
NEWCASTLE UNITED SUB! Newcastle have not offered a great deal all evening, so this change from Benitez probably should have been made about 20 minutes ago. Ritchie makes way for Kenedy as Benitez rolls the dice.
NEWCASTLE UNITED SUB! Benitez makes his third and final change by bringing on Muto for Perez, who has not really managed to get involved in the game. With 10 minutes to go Newcastle still have hope of snatching an unlikely point.
The final ball has been lacking pretty much all evening for Arsenal. Dubravka again comes off his line to gather a cross, this time from Aubameyang out on the left. United are enjoying a spell on the ball but Sokratis clears before Rondon can pounce.
SHOT! Rondon tries to work the angle on the edge of the box but is unable to do so. The ball falls nicely for Ki to strike, though his effort sails over the crossbar. That is United's first sight of goal since Rondon's on-target shot about 33 minutes in.
GOAL! ARSENAL 2-0 NEWCASTLE UNITED (ALEXANDRE LACAZETTE)
Arsenal have played some good football tonight but this is as simple as you like. Aubameyang heads the ball on, Lacazette gets between two Newcastle players and lofts it over the head of Dubravka. Brilliant finish but Benitez will be furious at the defending.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Maitland-Niles' cross from the right, after some good link-up play, has a little too much on it for Aubameyang. A corner is won and Lacazette heads it into the net, but he is penalised by the referee, seemingly for obstructing Dubravka - a harsh one, that.
Arsenal are cruising towards a 10th home league win in a row. It could have been a tense finale as they only had one goal to show for their dominance, but Lacazette's strike has killed off the contest for good.
Four minutes have been added on at the end of the match at the Emirates Stadium. Newcastle's supporters are starting to make their way towards the exit - they have seen their side offer very little this evening; not for the first time against a big-six side.
Arsenal are running down the clock. The Gunners do not need to push for another goal, but they nearly get it anyway as Mkhitaryan - brought on for Ozil a little earlier - has a shot blocked behind for a corner.
FULL TIME: ARSENAL 2-0 NEWCASTLE UNITED
Arsenal move up to third place in the Premier League for the first time in more than two years thanks to a 2-0 win over Newcastle.
The Gunners opened the scoring 30 minutes in when Ramsey steered a first-time finish in off the post, shortly after having a goal ruled out.
Lacazette added a second for the hosts late on as they made it 10 home league victories in a row for the first time in more than two decades.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events from the Emirates Stadium. Thank you for joining us this evening!
➡️ MATCH REPORT
