In need of points showed promise

allowed Murphy to cash in but after nicking the ball he was unable to follow up with a finish after the Arsenal man recovered the lost ground.

Moments later Murphy’s diving header was palmed away from goal by Cech.

Arsenal crept back into the game on 24 minutes as PierreEmerick Aubameyang broke free but Federico Fernandez got back to steal the ball and deny the former Borussia Dortmund star.

Newcastle threatened again and managed to force a couple of corners just after the half hour mark but nobody attacked the set-plays with any real quality and the danger was short-lived.

Unai Emery’s side had a chance on 33 minutes when Aaron Ramsey got free down the left-hand side but he scooped his effort over the bar.

Despite winning seven corners the Magpies were unable to manage a shot on target - but neither were Arsenal and the two sides went in level at the break.

The first half actually belonged to Newcastle in terms of a bright display.

But the Gunners didn’t have long to wait for a gift-wrapped opportunity to take the lead on 49 minutes.

Newcastle had made a defensive change at the break with Jamaal Lascelles leaving the field with a knock and replaced by Ciaran Clark.

But it was Fernandez who fouled Aubameyang 25 yards out, and Granit Xhaka curled home left-footed to beat Dubravka at the Leazes End. From there on in, performance levels dipped dramatically for the Magpies.

Newcastle responded five minutes later when Murphy got free down the left but drilled a tame shot straight at Petr Cech. But in a game in which Arsenal failed to even threaten in the first half they found themselves 2-0 up two minutes before the hour mark.

Alexandre Lacazette’s shot was blocked but Mezut Ozil followed up to calmly steer home a second goal to put the Gunners in full control.

As Newcastle struggled to hit back Benitez turned to his bench and called for Brazilian winger Kenedy who replaced Murphy.

But the Magpies offered precious little in terms of attack in the second half and while Benitez also threw Yoshinori Muto into the mix late on, Cech had a relatively easy afternoon.

Perez did zip the ball across goal with five minutes to go but the Arsenal stopper was equal to it and held on.

A late header from Joselu was tipped over by Cech but Newcastle wasted the corner.

In stoppage time Clark did power home a consolation goal after Fernandez’s cross but it proved to be too little, too late.

Newcastle remain in the bottom three and can no longer point to the fact they have been up against top six opponents with a less daunting fixture list coming up.