Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta: "I am happy with the points."

FT: Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle

Arsenal wasted chances in the first half but eventually broke down Newcastle's in the second half. [Getty]

Arsenal wasted chances in the first half but eventually broke down Newcastle's resistance in the second half.

Arsenal bounced back to winning ways with a 2-0 win over a struggling Newcastle side, and after the game at the Emirates, manager Mikel Arteta said patience was key to securing all three points.

Eddie Howe took charge of his first Newcastle game on Saturday lunchtime after missing their tie against Brentford last week due to a covid-19 test, but the Premier League bottom club were not able to change their fortunes.

The Gunners dominated most of the first half but could not hit the target, with captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang missing a clear chance to break the deadlock as the first half ended goalless.

But, early in the second half, the north London club took charge as Bukayo Saka finished off a neat pass from Nuno Tavares in the 56th minute.

And substitute Gabriel Martinelli doubled the lead just 93 seconds after replacing the injured Saka.

The result means Arsenal are now level on points with fourth-placed West Ham United and Arteta was thrilled with his side's display against the Magpies.

'We had to be patient.'

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to BBC Sport: "I am happy with the points after losing [to Liverpool last weekend]. You have to win straight away. Overall I’m pleased.

"The word was we had to be patient. We had to play with urgency and rhythm. That’s what we did in the second half. We found spaces and that’s how we scored the goals.

"When you have chances you have to put them in the net. In the first half, we shot from every range without composure."

On the second goal, Arteta asserted: "The movement, the pass from Tomi is great. It's really difficult to keep the ball down when it's flying over your head but that’s what he can do."

On Bukayo Saka's injury, the Spaniard replied: "He wasn’t comfortable. He felt something."

When quizzed about Saka's injury, the Spaniard said as Arsenal.com quoted: "Yeah, it was an action where he said he felt something and wasn't comfortable to continue and we'll have to assess him tomorrow and probably scan him and see if there's any injury there

And, on the top four race, he said: "We go game by game. After the defeat at Anfield, obviously, you see things in a different perspective maybe, but we've been on a good run and we have to carry on going and let's see where it takes us, but now let's analyse this game and start to prepare the game against Man United as quick as possible because we don't have many days."

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