Newcastle vs Arsenal result: Pierre Emerick Aubameyang fires Gunners to hard-fought three points
Relive all the action from St James Park
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Your support makes all the difference.Steve Bruce's reign as Newcastle United manager began in disappointing fashion as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's second-half goal sealed a 1-0 victory for Arsenal at a subdued St James' Park on Sunday.
After a largely forgettable first half in which Newcastle were slightly the better side, Arsenal eased to a comfortable three points thanks to Aubameyang's 58th minute strike.
Newcastle handed 40 million pound ($48.14 million) record signing Joelinton a debut up front and he showed some flashes of intent in the first half but the hosts fizzled out after the break.
The Gunners had to wait until April to keep their first away clean sheet in the Premier League last season, but looked solid as they opened their campaign in encouraging fashion.
The closest Newcastle came to scoring was in the first half when Jonjo Shelvey's powerful shot glanced the upright. Relive all the action below:
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Hello and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of today's 2pm Premier League fixtures!
Callum Rice-Coates will be in the house from 1pm so make to tune in.
All is not well at Newcastle. The mood around the club, following the departure of Rafa Benitez in the summer, is one of pessimism. And that has not been helped by the appointment of Steve Bruce: experienced and often reliable, yes, but hardly an inspiring choice.
There will be little in the way of expectation at St James' Park today, then. Arsenal, after a busy summer transfer window, are the visitors, and they'll be hoping for a positive start to the season.
Elsewhere, Leicester host Wolves in a game between two sides with ambitions of a top seven finish. Brendan Rodgers has a squad filled with young talent, while today's visitors to the King Power look settled after last season's remarkable return to the top flight. The addition of Patrick Cutrone, on the bench this afternoon, could take Wolves to another level, too.
Arsenal's new signings must wait to make an impact. Gabriel Martinelli, Dani Ceballos, Nicolas Pepe and David Luiz all start on the bench. Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac are absent, too, due to "further security incidents" following an attempted carjacking in North London. It means Unai Emery hands starts to youngsters Reiss Nelson and Joe Willock.
Newcastle, meanwhile, lineup with record signing Joelinton up top. New additions Allan Saint-Maximin and Emil Krafth are on the bench, while Andy Carroll is not deemed fit enough for a place in the squad.
Ayoze Perez, signed for £30m from Newcastle, makes his Leicester debut this afternoon. Deadline day addition Dennis Praet, meanwhile, only makes the bench. And the Harry Maguire shaped hole in the Foxes' defence is filled by Caglar Soyuncu, who made just a handful of appearances last season.
Wolves starting XI has a familiar look to it. Diogo Jota and Raul Jimenez lead the line, with Ruben Neves, Leander Dendoncker and Joao Moutinho in midfield. New man Patrick Cutrone is on the bench.
Newcastle fans are making their feelings known ahead of today's game. Thousands of supporters are boycotting St James' Park in protest at owner Mike Ashley. And the weather in the North East suits the mood, it seems.
Steve Bruce has spoken ahead of kick off:
You get to my age and you don't get excited very often. If you are born here, to get the opportunity to manage the club is something that is right up there. A highlight of a very long career.
It has been a difficult summer but a result will go some way to putting that right and help."
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