Arsenal travelled to Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon to continue their Premier League. Here are the Gunners player ratings from the 2-0 win. It took a bit of time but, eventually, Arsenal got their act together and dismissed a dogged if somewhat limited Newcastle United. The first half was extremely troubling, with neither side creating much of anything at either end and the surprising pressing tactics of Newcastle causing their visitors serious food for thought. But a much-improved second half was enough for the Gunners, running out comfortable 2-0 victors in the end. Here are the player ratings. Goalkeeper<doc-sep>It ended up being another three points for Arsenal, but how did the players fare at St. James’ Park? Arsenal came up against Newcastle United at St. James’ Park this afternoon. It was never going to be an easy task, given Arsenal’s away record in recent history, and Newcastle’s unpredictability. However, the Gunners saw themselves out of Newcastle with all three points. Goals from unexpected sources are what got them through. Granit Xhaka scored a fantastic free kick, while Mesut Ozil coolly slotted home, both goals came in the second half. But we already know that, let’s get into the player ratings! GK: Petr Cech – 6/10 He wasn’t tested much, yet he still let in a goal. You can pin that on the quality of the header if you wish, but it certainly doesn’t look good for Petr Cech. He didn’t look the most composed either, which doesn’t come as a surprise. There was a moment in the first half where he was forced to put the ball out of play, following a calm pass from Mustafi. The calls to start Bernd Leno have never been louder. It’s important Emery listens to this, as the last thing Cech would want is to have his legacy tarnished. As Emery looks to deploy a style of playing out from the back, Leno is undeniably much more able to achieve this task than Cech, so it certainly makes sense. Still, that was the only negative of the day, let’s lighten the mood…<doc-sep>Advertisement It is ten years this weekend since Kevin Keegan walked out on the nonsense of the Mike Ashley regime and still Newcastle remain trapped in the same infernal cycle of strife and struggle, hope and despair. There have been ten managers in that period, including caretakers, and though Rafael Benitez has looked more capable than any of defying the laws of football economics, Saturday night's Premier League provides a sobering sense of the task in hand. Third bottom with a solitary point. It is the first time since 1987 that Newcastle have lost their opening three home games. For the devout 52,000 who turned out as always, the frustration is compounded by a first half which revealed the Benitez alchemy: his way of making something gold out of baser metals. There was none of the Newcastle battening down of hatches that has caused the manager to be questioned and an abundance of possession. There was even something resembling sparkle, even though England manager Gareth Southgate's arrival to see Jonjo Shelvey proved to be in vain, with the midfielder on the bench. Arsenal claimed a third Premier League victory in a row on Saturday as Unai Emery's side beat Newcastle at St James' Park Granit Xhaka opened the scoring for Arsenal shortly after half-time with a superb free-kick that curled into the top corner The Switzerland international watches on as his stunning effort flies over the Newcastle wall and into the top corner of the net All four of Xhaka's Premier League goals for Arsenal have come from outside the penalty area and this was another beauty Mesut Ozil then doubled Arsenal's lead 10 minutes later when he finished off a well-worked team move from inside the box Ozil celebrates after he put Arsenal 2-0 ahead - the German opened his account for the season with a well-placed finish Ciaran Clark did manage to break Arsenal's resistance but his stoppage-time goal proved nothing more than a consolation MATCH FACTS, PLAYER RATINGS, LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Dubravka 6; Yedlin 6.5, Lascelles 6.5 (Clark 7), Fernandez 7, Dummett 6; Hayden 5, Diame 7; Murphy 6.5 (Kenedy 69 5.5), Perez 5.5 (Muto 79), Ritchie 6; Joselu 5.5. Subs not used: Darlow, Shelvey, Rondon, Manquillo. Goals: Clark 90 Manager: Rafa Benitez Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Cech 6; Bellerin 5.5, Mustafi 6, Sokratis 6, Monreal 5.5; Guendouzi 5 (Torreira 46 6), Xhaka 6.5; Ozil 6, Ramsey 6 (Welbeck 80 5.5), Aubameyang 5 (Mkhitaryan 69 6); Lacazette 6. Subs not used: Elneny, Lichtsteiner, Holding, Leno Goals: Xhaka 49, Ozil 58 Manager: Unai Emery Referee: Lee Probert Attendance: 52,165 Man of the Match: Xhaka Season at a glance Live tables Fixtures Scores Premier League Premier League Championship League One League Two Scottish Premiership Scottish Div 1 Scottish Div 2 Scottish Div 3 Ligue 1 Serie A La Liga Bundesliga Granit Xhaka opened the scoring with a superb free-kick on 49 minutes. ClickHERE for more from our Match Zone. Advertisement Mohamed Diame ran that first half, delivering to the flanks with metronomic accuracy and providing an imposing physical presence. Jacob Murphy, operating on the left, looked most likely to capitalise. His header on 21 minutes required the best instincts of Petr Cech, who leapt to palm away. But the enterprise required some last-third quality to translate into goals. The cold, hard truth is that Benitez's side lacked it. When Arsenal emerged from the interval and scored, the home side simply dissolved away. A foul by Federico Fernandez in front of the area brought a free kick which Granit Xhaka stepped up to, curling into the top left hand corner of Martin Dubravka's net. The introduction of Lucas Torreira to bolster central midfield also helped. The afternoon was over when the second goal came, nine minutes after the first. An Alexandre Lacazette shot was blocked out to Mesut Ozil, whose shot evaded the despairing dive of Dubravka, who got a touch on both successful strikes. Managers Emery and Rafa Benitez exchange pleasantries before kick-off in the Premier League showdown at St James' Park Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang loses possession after a strong tackle from Newcastle's DeAndre Yedlin Arsenal's Spanish defender Nacho Monreal tussles for an aerial ball with Newcastle winger Matt Ritchie on Saturday Hector Bellerin tries to put a cross into the box but Newcastle defender Paul Dummett does his best to stop the attack Ayoze Perez of Newcastle attempts to get past the Arsenal defence but he was ultimately crowded out inside the box Unai Emery, whose post-match discussions yield very little information at all, talked about 'balance' and 'transition' but his side won in very large part because the obstacle to them playing was removed. Ozil, playing in his 200th game for Arsenal, was moderately effective in the week that Emery had challenged him to provide more. Giving up playing for Germany had created a 'different' situation for him, Emery said. But this was by no means a statement of intent from Arsenal, even though they have won back-to-back away wins - something they did not manage at all last season. Cech's hapless attempts to play a ball out of defence with a left-foot pass early in the first half exposed a side and a player still adjusting to the way Emery wants them to play. Cech just does not look like a sweeper-keeper. Aaron Ramsey's deployment in an advanced position looks questionable too, removing the influence he can create deeper in midfield. He left the field early, as he did against Manchester City last month. Arsenal's German defender Shkodran Mustafi tries not to lose the ball to Joselu in a dangerous position on the pitch Arsenal's young midfielder Matteo Guendouzi vies for the ball with Jacob Murphy during the first-half at St James' Park England boss Gareth Southgate watches on from the stands as he looks for players to make up his next international squad Ozil looks on after losing the ball - the German was returning to action following the first international break since he retired Xhaka's goal was his first in 17 games for Arsenal - the midfielder drilled the ball into the back of the net with precision The opening goal completely deflated the Newcastle crowd and soon the visitors had doubled their lead through Ozil Emery's defence went missing in the 90th minute when Ciaran Clark sauntered in to convert a Fernandez cross from the right. But it was too late by then. Around 200 people protested before the game at the club shop, having discovered that it is run by Ashley's Sports Direct company. The firm's branding is conspicuous by its absence in the store. Benitez said of the protests: 'I'm more concerned about the margin we have against the top sides and losing these games.' Benitez also said he was 'not concerned' about his team's position. 'I know my team. I think we can do well to be there, to be close, to be positive. The next step is to be sure we have the ability, the quality in the final third to make the difference.' But after a summer in which Ashley has made a £21million profit in the transfer market, it is difficult to see where that 'difference' is coming from. Benitez's first choice striker, Salomon Rondon, rested after international duty with Venezuela, may not make that much difference. A further nine months here may be the limit of Benitez's appetite for a task like this. If West Ham's implosion under Manuel Pellegrini persists, he may well find himself the subject of yet another approach by them even sooner. A choice to make between of the lesser of two evils, if ever there was one. The German produced a composed finish after Alexandre Lacazette's shot was initially blocked by a Newcastle defender It was Ozil's first goal of the Premier League season and it sent Arsenal on their way to a third consecutive victory Newcastle pushed forward in search of a comeback but Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech was on hand to deny them Benitez barks instructions to his Newcastle players as he looked to avoid yet another defeat in the Premier League<doc-sep>
Newcastle United ended up well beaten by Arsenal as first half promise faded into familiar frustrations at St James’ Park. United came into the game looking for their first win of the season and worked hard to limit Arsenal to half chances while putting them under pressure themselves in an encouraging first 45 minutes. Jacob Murphy gave Petr Cech something to think about and United forced a succession of corners although clear-cut chances were hard to come by for United, who rested Salomon Rondon and kept Jonjo Shelvey on the bench with fitness concerns coming into Rafa Benitez’s thinking. And the second half proved a totally different story as Granit Xhaka floated a free-kick past Martin Dubravka on 49 minutes as Arsenal made short work of a limited United. Jamaal Lascelles, who twisted his ankle in the first half, was withdrawn for Ciaran Clark at half-time and the defensive certainty disappeared. Mesut Ozil made it two and Arsenal threatened to run away with the game. Newcastle rallied late on with Ciaran Clark scoring a stoppage time header but it was not enough for Newcastle, who remain in the bottom three ahead of a tough looking trip to Crystal Palace. Here are Lee Ryder’s marks. Martin Dubravka 6 Not even tested in first half and didn’t get near either Arsenal goal in second. (Image: PA) DeAndre Yedlin 6 Felt the pace of the game in the second half after international fortnight. Thankfully stayed on after awkward fall following challenge from Ramsey. Jamaal Lascelles 7 Picked up an injury in warm up but still breezed through the half despite being up against dangerous attacking duo. Not risked after the break. Federico Fernandez 6 Had a great first half but blotted copybook with needless foul on Aubameyang to concede free-kick which turned the game on its head. Paul Dummett 7 Was probably the pick of the defence in the second half. Newcastle’s most influential on the ball with 58 touches. Matt Ritchie 7 Was the dangerman in the first period but fizzled out in second half before being hooked. Mo Diame 5 Had no answer to Arsenal’s midfield. (Image: Getty Images Europe) Isaac Hayden 5 Looked completely jaded by the end. Didn’t take big chance against old club. Jacob Murphy 6 Has genuine pace as he demonstrated when nicking the ball from Mustafi but lacks composure at times. Also forced Cech to push away a diving header. Hooked with a quarter of the game to go. (Image: Newcastle Chronicle) Ayoze Perez 6 Didn’t offer much offensively. Looked like he’d been told to help block the threat of Bellerin - which he did well. Was allowed to venture forward a little more in second half but by that time it was too late. Joselu 5 One header that was tipped over. Not a good day for the striker. poll loading Do you think NUFC will go down? 6000+ VOTES SO FAR Yes No Subs Ciaran Clark 7 (for Lascelles 46) Showed some fighting spirit and grabbed consolation. Kenedy 4 (for Murphy 69) A poor show. Yoshinori Muto (for Perez 79) Made no impact. *Subs must play 15 minutes to earn a mark.