Arsenal closed in on another shot at Champions League qualification with a 3-0 win over Newcastle last night to inflict a sixth straight defeat on under-pressure manager Alan Pardew, who returned to the dugout following a lengthy touchline ban.
The Gunners are now four points ahead of Everton in the race to secure a top-four finish, with just two matches remaining, as club-record signing Mesut Ozil delivered an inspired display, scoring one and creating another.
Newcastle, though, continue their slide down the Premier League following another lacklustre display – which left the 2,000-strong travelling support venting their anger on Pardew, whose long-term future is in doubt.
Arsenal showed the greater intent during the opening stages, with an angled drive from Ozil bouncing just wide before Laurent Koscielny stabbed in a deep free-kick from Santi Cazorla on 26 minutes.
Newcastle briefly rallied, but were soon chasing the game again and fell further behind three minutes before half-time when Ozil swept home.
Arsenal moved 3-0 ahead on 66 minutes when Ozil’s inch-perfect cross was headed in by Olivier Giroud.
Next fixtures
Saturday: 13.45 West Ham vs Tottenham. 16.00 Aston Villa vs Hull City; Manchester United vs Sunderland; Newcastle vs Cardiff City; Stoke City vs Fulham; Swansea City vs Southampton. 18.30 Everton vs Manchester City.
Sunday: 14.30 Arsenal vs West Brom. 17.00 Chelsea vs Norwich City.
Monday: 21.00 Crystal Palace vs Liverpool.
Standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Liverpool | 36 | 25 | 5 | 6 | 96 | 46 | 80 |
| Chelsea | 36 | 24 | 6 | 6 | 69 | 26 | 78 |
| Man. City | 35 | 24 | 5 | 6 | 93 | 35 | 77 |
| Arsenal | 36 | 22 | 7 | 7 | 65 | 41 | 73 |
| Everton | 36 | 20 | 9 | 7 | 57 | 36 | 69 |
| Tottenham | 36 | 20 | 6 | 10 | 52 | 49 | 66 |
| Man. United | 35 | 18 | 6 | 11 | 60 | 40 | 60 |
| Southampton | 36 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 52 | 45 | 52 |
| Newcastle | 36 | 14 | 4 | 18 | 39 | 57 | 46 |
| Stoke City | 36 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 39 | 50 | 44 |
| C. Palace | 36 | 13 | 4 | 19 | 28 | 43 | 43 |
| Swansea | 36 | 10 | 9 | 17 | 51 | 52 | 39 |
| Hull City | 35 | 10 | 7 | 18 | 36 | 45 | 37 |
| West Ham | 36 | 10 | 7 | 19 | 38 | 49 | 37 |
| West Brom | 35 | 7 | 15 | 13 | 42 | 54 | 36 |
| Aston Villa | 35 | 9 | 8 | 18 | 36 | 53 | 35 |
| Sunderland | 35 | 8 | 8 | 19 | 37 | 57 | 32 |
| Norwich City | 36 | 8 | 8 | 20 | 28 | 60 | 32 |
| Fulham | 36 | 9 | 4 | 23 | 37 | 79 | 31 |
| Cardiff City | 36 | 7 | 9 | 20 | 31 | 69 | 30 |