Bukayo Saka 8, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 7; Callum Wilson 4: Arsenal v Newcastle player ratings

Gunners claim a 3-0 win at the Emirates to move into the top half of the Premier League table

ARSENAL PLAYER RATINGS: Bernd Leno 6 – Another clean sheet for the German, and he’ll not have an easier evening all season. Didn’t have a single save to make. AFP

Cedric Soares 8 – Returned to the side and looked accomplished. He wasn’t tested defensively, but he was confident on the ball and even looked to get forward, delivering a teasing ball for Lacazette and setting up Aubameyang for the third. Getty Images

Rob Holding 7 – Will certainly have more difficult games, but he dealt with everything that came his way. Solid in the air and strong in the tackle. EPA

David Luiz 6 – Slowed down Arsenal’s play in possession at times and tried to be clever with the long pass, but ultimately did his job. PA

Kieran Tierney 6 – Didn’t put a foot wrong. Always looking to get the ball forward and was precise with his passing in and around the Newcastle box. Linked up well with Aubameyang. PA

Thomas Partey 8 – Looked like he had another couple of gears to go through, but looked comfortable with the ball at his feet. Winning the ball back looked effortless, and it was his pass that sent Aubameyang free on the left for Arsenal’s opening goal. AP

Granit Xhaka 7 – Another solid display and looked good alongside Partey, though he needs to cut out his sideways/backwards passes to become more effective. AP

Bukayo Saka 8 – Combined well with Smith-Rowe and always looked lively around the Newcastle box. The duo combined well for Arsenal’s second, Smith-Rowe pulling the ball back and Saka firing home with his first touch. EPA

Emile Smith-Rowe 8 – Created Arsenal’s best opening early on when his drive into the box released Saka, who then delivered to Aubameyang. He combined with Saka again for Arsenal’s second, when he pulled the ball back for Saka to slot home. AFP

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 7 – Two goals for the Gabonese striker, and it could have been a hat-trick. Aubameyang will be delighted to be back on the scoresheet, particularly as it will help him forget the sitter he missed a sitter in the first half. Reuters

Alexandre Lacazette 6 – The Frenchman was quiet in the first half but burst to life at the start of the second, swivelling and hitting a low drive that was well saved by Darlow. Darlow kept him out once again with a header. AP

Mohamed Elneny (Partey, 67) 6 – Tidy performance as he helped keep possession as the Gunners ran down the clock. Getty Images

Willian (Aubameyang, 79) N/A – Did little when he came on to suggest he should be starting. EPA

Gabriel Martinelli (Smith Rowe, 82) N/A – Struggled to get into the game but needed more time. AFP

NEWCASTLE PLAYER RATINGS: Karl Darlow 6 – Tough game for the keeper, who didn’t really have a great deal to do until he was forced into a save from Lacazette early in the second half. His next act was to pick the ball out of the net, twice. In the end, he faced 20 attempts on goal. Reuters

Emil Krafth 4 – A good outlet on the right, but his final ball let him down. When he attacked he sometimes left space behind him, and there were other times he was left exposed. Getty Images

Jamaal Lascelles 4 – Beaten too easily by Smith-Rowe when Arsenal scored the second and was pulled out of position too easily at times. Looked off the pace. EPA

Ciaran Clark 5 – Tenth Premier League start in a row and though he was one of the few players to emerge with any credit, he was guilty of a few costly mistakes. Getty Images

Jamal Lewis 4 – A disappointing game for the former Norwich man, who was guilty of losing the ball not just with his feet, but from throw-ins too. Was turned inside out by Cedric on one occasion. PA

Miguel Almiron 6 – Started brightly and was always looking to be on the ball, the only Newcastle player who looked capable of driving into the Arsenal half with intent. So often isolated, he looked the best player in a poor team. PA

Matty Longstaff 4 – Poor night from Longstaff, who was caught ambling back when Saka scored the second and was bypassed for much of the game. EPA

Jonjo Shelvey 4 – Repeatedly sent his corners into the first defender, which will no doubt have frustrated Steve Bruce. Apart from the occasional 40-yard pass, he was poor. EPA

Joelinton 4 – Worked hard on the left flank but it was a bit of a thankless task. Looked lost. EPA

Callum Wilson 4 – Completely isolated in attack. He must be kicking himself he didn’t join Aston Villa in the summer, as he now faces a second relegation battle in a row. Had one tame header for his troubles. EPA

Andy Carroll 4 - Didn’t receive a lot of service but was marked out of the game by Rob Holding. Was substituted. PA

SUBS: Jacob Murphy (Carroll, 68) 5 – Brought on to change the game but with his crossing ability could probably have done with having the man he replaced still on the field to aim for. AFP

Jeff Hendrick (Longstaff, 77) N/A – Newcastle needed goals and Hendrick did little to help in his 13-minute cameo. Reuters

Elliot Anderson (Almiron, 87) N/A – Came on for his Premier League debut, one of the few positives on a disappointing night for the Magpies. AFP

Arsenal moved up into the top half of the Premier League table on Monday night after beating Newcastle United 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium.

After a goalless first half, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice for his first league goals since December 16 either side of a Bukayo Saka finish.

It was a fifth consecutive clean sheet in all competitions for Arsenal and a fourth win in five league matches.

“We’re all coming together as a group," attacking midfielder Emile Smith Rowe said. "We’ve had some meetings off the pitch. The whole group is so much stronger and it showed on the pitch.”

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta echoed that sentiment. “The spirit is better,” he said. "We have to maintain that run.”

For Newcastle, the defeat continues a worrying slump in form and although they remain in 15th place, they are only seven points from the relegation zone.

“There’s no denying that confidence is low,” manager Steve Bruce said. “We have to keep plugging away at it.”

Assessing the performances at the Emirates Stadium, Nick Judd has provided his player ratings in the photo gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.