Newcastle United's Isaac Hayden applauds the fans after the final whistle during the Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium, London. Picture date: Saturday November 27, 2021.
ARSENAL RATINGS: Aaron Ramsdale - 8: Brilliant save from in-form goalkeeper to tip Shelvey shot into crossbar in first half. AFP
Takehiro Tomiyasu - 7: Missed target with left- and right-footed shots in opening half. Lovely pass to supply Martinelli for Gunners’ second. EPA
Ben White - 7: Coped easily with what little attacking threat Joelinton and Wilson offered up front for Magpies. AFP
Gabriel - 7: Involved in real scrap with Wilson right from opening minutes but generally came out on top against the Newcastle striker. Getty
Nuno Tavares - 6: Kept his place at left-back despite Kieran Tierney’s presence on bench. Guilty of three wild shots way off target in first half when teammates were far better placed. Nice ball to Saka for first goal. Reuters
Thomas Partey - 7: Smart passing from base of midfield although needed to move the ball a bit quicker at times. Had shot deflected over bar in second half. PA
Albert Sambi Lokonga - 7: Lovely ball over defence after 15 minutes to pick out Saka but teammate couldn’t finish. Helped Gunners dominate possession. AFP
Emile Smith Rowe - 7: Saw header saved by Dubravka late in first half that should have resulted in Aubameyang scoring rebound … only to result in one of misses of the season. Didn't hit the highs of some matches this season that resulted in England call-up but still a good show from midfielder. EPA
Martin Odegaard - 7: First start in more than a month and saw his free-kick saved comfortably by Dubravka 20 minutes in. Sprayed some nice balls around as Gunners controlled game from start to finish. AFP
Bukayo Saka - 9: Poor finish wide with game’s first real chance after being picked out by Lokonga. Great run and cross to tee-up chance for Smith Rowe before break. Opened scoring with excellent finish into corner from tight angle. Newcastle would have been relieved when he went off injured. AFP
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - 4: Barely touched the ball until just before break when he missed absolute sitter hitting outside of post from close range after Dubravka saved from Smith Rowe. Missed another chance in second half before being booked then substituted. Not his day. AFP
SUBS: Gabriel Martinelli – (On for Saka 64’) 8: Brilliant first-time volley to make it 2-0 with just his second touch of game and denied a second by timely Lascelles challenge. Getty
Alexandre Lacazette – (On for Aubameyang 77’) N/A. Fired one shot into side netting. AP
NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Martin Dubravka – 7: Slovakian, back in starting line-up, saved well from Odegaard free-kick and Smith Rowe header in first half. Commanded area when called up and had no chance with two excellent Arsenal goals. Reuters
Emil Krafth - 5: Involved in nasty first-half collision with own goalkeeper when Dubravka came out to punch away cross but Swede was able to continue. Stupid booking for barging over Tavares and lost track of Saka for opening goal. EPA
Jamaal Lascelles - 6: Newcastle captain had looked rock-solid until beaten by Saka’s pace late in first half. Booked in second half and will miss next game. Important challenge to prevent Martinelli grabbing a second late on. AP
Fabian Schar - 7: Flicked header over bar from corner just before half-hour mark and made some well-timed tackles at the back in decent performance by Swiss defender. EPA
Matt Ritchie - 5: Caught out by Lokonga ball to Saka after quarter-of-an-hour. Booked just before half-time for fouling England player and will also miss next game. Usual whole-hearted 90 minutes but suspect defensively and looked like what he is: a winger playing at left-back. PA
Ryan Fraser - 5: Given starting berth by Eddie Howe and while he certainly put in a shift defensively was unable to make any impact on attacking front. Getty
Joe Willock - 5: Midfielder, up against his former club, gave away needless foul on edge of area after 20 minutes – with Dubravka saving resulting free-kick from Odegaard. Hit one shot straight at Ramsdale after break but still long way off form he showed at end of last season that earned his permanent move to Tyneside. PA
Jonjo Shelvey - 7: Thought he’d opened scoring only for Ramsdale to tip his curling effort onto bar, then struck another low shot straight at keeper minutes later. Had third attempt saved by Ramsdale after break and was only Newcastle player who looked like scoring. AFP
Allan Saint-Maximin - 5: Employed out on the left flank at the Emirates little opportunity to run at Gunners defence. Had shot saved by Ramsdale three minutes from time but cut a frustrated figure for most of the game and new manager Eddie Howe will need more from the French attacker if Newcastle are to avoid the drop. Getty
Joelinton - 4: A goal and decent performance last time out against Brentford but Brazilian contributed very little here and it was no surprise when taken off in second half. AFP
Callum Wilson - 5: No sniff of goal until put through by Shelvey ball over top in second half and went down in box claiming a penalty – but would have been very harsh call. PA
SUBS: Miguel Almiron – (On for Ritchie 68’) 6: At least tried to provide Newcastle with some much-needed energy going forward. PA
Jacob Murphy – (On for Joelinton 68’) 6: Good ball across six-yard box that was crying out for a finish that never arrived. Reuters
Newcastle United's Isaac Hayden applauds the fans after the final whistle during the Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium, London. Picture date: Saturday November 27, 2021.
ARSENAL RATINGS: Aaron Ramsdale - 8: Brilliant save from in-form goalkeeper to tip Shelvey shot into crossbar in first half. AFP
Takehiro Tomiyasu - 7: Missed target with left- and right-footed shots in opening half. Lovely pass to supply Martinelli for Gunners’ second. EPA
Ben White - 7: Coped easily with what little attacking threat Joelinton and Wilson offered up front for Magpies. AFP
Gabriel - 7: Involved in real scrap with Wilson right from opening minutes but generally came out on top against the Newcastle striker. Getty
Nuno Tavares - 6: Kept his place at left-back despite Kieran Tierney’s presence on bench. Guilty of three wild shots way off target in first half when teammates were far better placed. Nice ball to Saka for first goal. Reuters
Thomas Partey - 7: Smart passing from base of midfield although needed to move the ball a bit quicker at times. Had shot deflected over bar in second half. PA
Albert Sambi Lokonga - 7: Lovely ball over defence after 15 minutes to pick out Saka but teammate couldn’t finish. Helped Gunners dominate possession. AFP
Emile Smith Rowe - 7: Saw header saved by Dubravka late in first half that should have resulted in Aubameyang scoring rebound … only to result in one of misses of the season. Didn't hit the highs of some matches this season that resulted in England call-up but still a good show from midfielder. EPA
Martin Odegaard - 7: First start in more than a month and saw his free-kick saved comfortably by Dubravka 20 minutes in. Sprayed some nice balls around as Gunners controlled game from start to finish. AFP
Bukayo Saka - 9: Poor finish wide with game’s first real chance after being picked out by Lokonga. Great run and cross to tee-up chance for Smith Rowe before break. Opened scoring with excellent finish into corner from tight angle. Newcastle would have been relieved when he went off injured. AFP
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - 4: Barely touched the ball until just before break when he missed absolute sitter hitting outside of post from close range after Dubravka saved from Smith Rowe. Missed another chance in second half before being booked then substituted. Not his day. AFP
SUBS: Gabriel Martinelli – (On for Saka 64’) 8: Brilliant first-time volley to make it 2-0 with just his second touch of game and denied a second by timely Lascelles challenge. Getty
Alexandre Lacazette – (On for Aubameyang 77’) N/A. Fired one shot into side netting. AP
NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Martin Dubravka – 7: Slovakian, back in starting line-up, saved well from Odegaard free-kick and Smith Rowe header in first half. Commanded area when called up and had no chance with two excellent Arsenal goals. Reuters
Emil Krafth - 5: Involved in nasty first-half collision with own goalkeeper when Dubravka came out to punch away cross but Swede was able to continue. Stupid booking for barging over Tavares and lost track of Saka for opening goal. EPA
Jamaal Lascelles - 6: Newcastle captain had looked rock-solid until beaten by Saka’s pace late in first half. Booked in second half and will miss next game. Important challenge to prevent Martinelli grabbing a second late on. AP
Fabian Schar - 7: Flicked header over bar from corner just before half-hour mark and made some well-timed tackles at the back in decent performance by Swiss defender. EPA
Matt Ritchie - 5: Caught out by Lokonga ball to Saka after quarter-of-an-hour. Booked just before half-time for fouling England player and will also miss next game. Usual whole-hearted 90 minutes but suspect defensively and looked like what he is: a winger playing at left-back. PA
Ryan Fraser - 5: Given starting berth by Eddie Howe and while he certainly put in a shift defensively was unable to make any impact on attacking front. Getty
Joe Willock - 5: Midfielder, up against his former club, gave away needless foul on edge of area after 20 minutes – with Dubravka saving resulting free-kick from Odegaard. Hit one shot straight at Ramsdale after break but still long way off form he showed at end of last season that earned his permanent move to Tyneside. PA
Jonjo Shelvey - 7: Thought he’d opened scoring only for Ramsdale to tip his curling effort onto bar, then struck another low shot straight at keeper minutes later. Had third attempt saved by Ramsdale after break and was only Newcastle player who looked like scoring. AFP
Allan Saint-Maximin - 5: Employed out on the left flank at the Emirates little opportunity to run at Gunners defence. Had shot saved by Ramsdale three minutes from time but cut a frustrated figure for most of the game and new manager Eddie Howe will need more from the French attacker if Newcastle are to avoid the drop. Getty
Joelinton - 4: A goal and decent performance last time out against Brentford but Brazilian contributed very little here and it was no surprise when taken off in second half. AFP
Callum Wilson - 5: No sniff of goal until put through by Shelvey ball over top in second half and went down in box claiming a penalty – but would have been very harsh call. PA
SUBS: Miguel Almiron – (On for Ritchie 68’) 6: At least tried to provide Newcastle with some much-needed energy going forward. PA
Jacob Murphy – (On for Joelinton 68’) 6: Good ball across six-yard box that was crying out for a finish that never arrived. Reuters
Newcastle United's Isaac Hayden applauds the fans after the final whistle during the Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium, London. Picture date: Saturday November 27, 2021.