African artillery wins it for Arsenal away

After a mostly disappointing Europa League semifinals against Villareal, Arsenal were dying for a confidence boost. It came in a form of three huge points. Final score 0-2 at St James' Park.

Gunners needed approximately 300 seconds to score. What a start for Arsenal and what a finish from Mohamed Elneny.

The Gunners' fast start is rewarded with the early breakthrough as the ball falls for Elneny on the edge of the box after Aubameyang failed to convert Bellerin's cutback.

Elneny sent a clinical volley into the bottom corner with what is his first-ever Premier League goal.

Arsenal opened up aggressively and attacked all through out the first half. The Magpies were fully taken over by the visitors from London - 13 attempts towards Martin Dubravka opposed to only three Matt Ryan saw. The only player who haven't took a shot on Newcastle's goal was Willian.

Two more opportunities worth mentioning in the first period happened in only three minutes. First, Granit Xhaka tried in the 29th minute from the edge of the box - he drilled the ball towards the top right corner. Dubravka was almost caught out but pulled off a brilliant save at the last second.

Few moments later, Mohamed Elneny met an excellent cross and from the edge of the penalty box and tried with a fantastic header towards the bottom right corner of the goal, but it was blocked by a defender just in time.

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Second half started not as strong from the Gunners but as time passed, guests saw that Newcastle United seem lifeless and without a plan on how to level the score. Gunners slowly turned the pressure on and with possession and precise passing doubled their lead.

In the 66th minute - a beautiful kung-fu kick from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ended up behind Dubravka's back.

Clinical from Arsenal - a lovely one-touch move ended with Martinelli being found in space on the left and he whipped a quite brilliant ball to the far post where Aubameyang hooked in Arsenal's second on the stretch.

Second goal from Arsenal killed any hope Magpies might have had. They will have to look for their security points against someone else, possible against the already relegated Sheffield United.

Arsenal are now ninth, with 49 points collected. All eyes of Arsenal fans are now on Thursday and the Emirates second-leg against Villareal to try and salvage a bad season, to say the least.

PREMIER LEAGUE - Round 34

Friday

Southampton - Leicester City 1-1 (0-0)

/Ward-Prowse 61 - Evans 69/

Saturday

Crystal Palace - Manchester City 0-2 (0-0)

/Aguero 58, Torres 59/

Brighton & Hove Albion - Leeds United 2-0 (1-0)

/Gross 14 pen, Welbeck 79/

Chelsea - Fulham 2-0 (1-0)

/Havertz 10,49/

Everton - Aston Villa 1-2 (1-1)

/Calvert-Lewin 19' - Watkins 13', El Ghazi 80'/

Sunday

Newcastle United - Arsenal 0-2 (0-1)

/Elneny 5', Aubameyang 66'/

18.30: Manchester United - Liverpool

21.15: Tottenham Hotspur - Sheffield United

Monday

20.00: West Bromwich Albion - Wolverhampton Wanderers

22.15: Burnley - West Ham United