Newcastle have had far worse defeats at Emirates Stadium over the years. The frustration for the visitors was they had been given advance warning before Eberechi Eze's opener, which ultimately decided this game.

Head coach Eddie Howe had Arsenal's aerial threat in mind with his team selection as he handed the 6ft 7in Dan Burn a rare start at left-back and recalled towering goalkeeper Nick Pope.

But Arsenal surprised the visitors by going short with each of their opening three corner routines.

The second should have sent alarm bells ringing after the unmarked Eze fired wide from outside the box, but Newcastle failed to take note and the midfielder opened the scoring from a similar position just a few minutes later.

Arsenal have scored just two goals from short corners in the Premier League this season - and both have come against Howe's side.

The visitors could have gone under, but they didn't.

Blunt Newcastle have been so drained of confidence that they have looked reluctant to even shoot at times in recent weeks following damaging defeats by Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Sunderland and Barcelona.

Newcastle racked up plenty of efforts from distance but the visitors lacked an edge in the final third as the Emirates grew a little anxious, even after Howe turned to his bench and threw on Harvey Barnes, Yoane Wissa, Nick Woltemade and, finally, Anthony Elanga.

Howe's anguish on the touchline after a stretching Wissa volleyed over said it all as his side fell to a ninth defeat in 12 league games.