Arsenal 1 Newcastle United 0 | OneFootball

Eze's fine whipped finish from 20 yards flew past goalkeeper Nick Pope and put the title-chasing hosts ahead early on at the Emirates Stadium.

And it was a lead Mikel Arteta's men held despite some promising spells from United, who could have snatched a point in the closing stages through substitute Yoane Wissa, who volleyed Nick Woltemade's pass over.

The defeat - a fifth successive one in all competitions for Newcastle - leaves Eddie Howe's side 14th in the Premier League table.

The Magpies had started well and threatened inside the opening 20 seconds when ex-Gunner Joe Willock - one of five players brought into the side by Howe following last weekend's defeat to Bournemouth - burst through the middle and played in Will Osula, who missed his kick.

Skipper Bruno Guimarães, recently back from injury and in the starting line-up for the first time since February, then lashed just over from the edge of the box after picking up Sandro Tonali's pass.

At the other end, Eze lashed just wide following a short corner before another similar routine saw Kai Havertz give the England international another shooting opportunity from the edge of the box, which he dispatched with aplomb, finding the top left-hand corner.

United have looked to respond, with Willock curling a powerful effort at David Raya and the lively Osula involved in most of their best attacks, while Tonali's swerving strike from distance forced the Arsenal stopper to parry on the half hour.

Newcastle started the second half with purpose too, with Lewis Miley combining with Guimarães in the box before crossing for Jacob Ramsey, whose own centre was cut out just before Osula could turn it goalwards.

Howe's men were looking to seize upon what looked like some nerves from the home side and their supporters in North London but still struggled to carve out many real openings. As they approached the final 20 minutes at the Emirates, it looked like the Magpies were in the ascendency, although a couple of timely blocks from Malick Thiaw and Dan Burn helped keep the contest alive.

Goalkeeper Pope, who was preferred to former Arsenal stopper Aaron Ramsdale, escaped with a yellow card for hauling down Viktor Gyökeres on the Gunners' right flank while well out of his box, while Woltemade was introduced in place of Guimarães with 15 minutes remaining.

And the German international created a glorious opening for Wissa just a few minutes after entering the fray. Woltemade collected Willock's pass and clipped a superb ball over the Arsenal defence for United's number nine, who volleyed just over the bar at full stretch.

It was a big opportunity for the visitors, but one that went begging. The Gunners took aim again through fit-again Bukayo Saka, who saw an attempt deflected wide, and Gabriel Martinelli, whose overhead kick was comfortably held by Pope.

And in the end Arteta's charges were able to hold onto their slim advantage, with Raya saving United's final effort - a back-post Burn header from Harvey Barnes' deep cross - before Pope's stop down low to his left stopped Martin Ødegaard from making it two.

Newcastle United: Nick Pope, Sven Botman, Sandro Tonali, Malick Thiaw, Will Osula (Yoane Wissa 66), Jacob Murphy (Harvey Barnes 66), Joe Willock (Anthony Elanga 86), Dan Burn, Bruno Guimarães (c), Jacob Ramsey, Lewis Miley

Substitutes: Aaron Ramsdale, Kieran Trippier, Lewis Hall, Alex Murphy, Sean Neave