Arsenal v Newcastle LIVE: Result and reaction from Premier League as Saka scores in big Gunners win

Kieran Trippier pointed at Fabian Schar. Fabian Schar pointed to Loris Karius. Loris Karius pointed to Tino Livramento. Everyone pointed at Sven Botman. Bruno Guimaraes kicked something in red, just for something to do. On the touchline, Eddie Howe stood with hands on hips. Over Howe’s shoulder, Jason Tindall stood with hands on hips, whispering in Howe’s ear. Newcastle’s plan was in pieces. Thrashed by Arsenal, this was no contest.

Yet Arsenal were outstanding. Mikel Arteta’s side took the hurt of Wednesday night’s defeat in Porto and the frustration of November’s defeat at St James’ Park to move two points off top with their sixth Premier League win in a row. Under the lights at the Emirates, Arsenal were intense and ferocious, their work and effort off the ball in pressing Newcastle into submission only matched by the quality and precision of their attacking play. Bukayo Saka’s weaving third after the hour-mark belatedly gave Arsenal some breathing space following an opening 45 minutes of utter domination.

It was clear just how much Arsenal enjoyed this; Arteta’s side didn’t just beat Newcastle, they destroyed them. In the evisceration, Martin Odegaard turned and roared after chasing Guimaraes into his own box and sending the Brazilian crashing to the turf as he blocked his clearance, such was Arsenal’s desire for the game to be played exclusively in the Newcastle half. Last season, when Newcastle possessed the league’s best defence, capable of arriving at the Emirates and shutting out the hosts, such a fixture may have suited them. But Newcaslte are not the same side - and the excuse of their injury crisis is wearing thin.

Read Jamie Braidwood’s full report from the Emirates:

Speaking on TNT Sports, Kai Havertz said: “It was very important to win today. We had a tough game on Wednesday, we wanted to win today and I think we deserved it.

“I’ve known Jorginho a long time and it’s always nice to play with him. We know each other well, it makes life easy for me. He’s a world-class player.

“It’s nice to play here, the fans give us so much energy, they are so important for us and showed it again today. It gave us a big boost.”

Bukayo Saka added: “I’m happy with another goal and happy to win, most importantly. I’m working hard every day on the training ground and giving my best. I’ve got great teammates giving me good passes which helps!

“We’ve got a lot of quality going forward, it’s starting to click, we’ve got confidence and the chemistry is building.”

All over as Arsenal rip Newcastle to shreds. Brilliant performance and they move just two points behind Liverpool in the Premier League title race.

90+2 mins: Burn gets caught out on the touchline by Nelson but doesn’t give up and gets back to hook Smith Rowe’s shot off the line when it’s worked to him in the box. It fell to Smith Rowe and he hammered it goalwards, past Karius but Burn saved his team.

90 mins: Five minutes of added time to see us out in north London.

88 mins: Jorginho comes off to a standing ovation and Mohamed Elneny will come on for the final knockings. Jorginho has been sublime today.

Newcastle pull one back and it’s ex-Arsenal man Joe Willock with the finish. It’s actually a really nice goal from the Magpies

Harvey Barnes drives forward and has Arsenal retreating before slipping a reverse pass to Gordon who then finds Burn on the overlap down the left. The big man dinks in a cross, Willock rises and cranes his neck to power a looped header over Raya. Great finish and even the Arsenal fans applaud their academy graduate scoring against them.

Here was that goal from Saka. A thing of beauty, although Livramento won’t want to watch it back.

77 mins: Arsenal are the first team in Premier League history to score two goals in seven consecutive halves of football. They’ve had their scoring boots on over the past few games. They’re right in the title hunt,

74 mins: But the corner goes straight into Raya’s hands. Arsenal try to counter but the referee can’t get out of the way as the ball is quickly thrown out. He apologises.

Triple Arsenal sub as Eddie Nketiah, Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson come on for Havertz, Saka and Odegaard