ARSENAL’S VICTORY was comfortable in the end and the manner of the goals will have given Mikel Arteta real encouragement (Jan 18), reports the Voice of Sport from Emirates Stadium.

First Thomas Partey – starting for the first time since returning from a thigh injury – released Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for a run and strike that showcased Arsenal, and their captain, at their counter-attacking best.

Then some fine work from Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka, two Arsenal Hale End academy graduates who shone on the night, delivered the second. Aubameyang made it three.

The goals came after the interval following an almost lifeless first half where the only chance of real note saw Aubameyang strike the upright when it might have been easier for a player of his talent to score.

His atonement came within five minutes of the restart. Arsenal regained possession following a Newcastle corner and within seconds the ball was in the Newcastle net. Steve Bruce’s side had defended reasonably well until that point but Arsenal had not subjected their opponents to the sort of raking move that Partey instigated from deep inside his own half.

The target was Aubameyang, who was galloping into space with the isolated and back-peddling Emile Krafth barring his way. With a switch onto his left foot the Arsenal forward dismissed Krafth’s efforts and found the power and accuracy to beat Carl Darlow.

Whereas Arsenal had spent 109 minutes trying to pick the Newcastle lock when these sides met in the FA Cup at this ground nine days ago, their earlier frustrations immediately subsided. The visitors were breached again within 10 minutes. Smith Rowe drove down the left and cut back for Saka to apply the finishing touch.

Aubameyang was to score twice in a match for the first time since August’s FA Cup final. The marauding Cedric Soares, who performed well in a rare start, kept the ball in play on the Newcastle byline to serve up a simple tap-in for the Gabonese.

Newcastle had fallen apart. Bruce had promised to upset the apple cart having publicly criticised his players following last weekend’s defeat to Premier League bottom club Sheffield United. He made eight changes, switching to four at the back and selecting a more attacking lineup. While they offered more offensive intent, Newcastle failed to test Bernd Leno.

Arsenal claimed a fifth consecutive clean sheet and, once they found their range at the other end, there was no answer. What might have been another frustrating night turned into a procession.

Partey was sensibly hooked late on, while Aubameyang was denied the opportunity to grab a first hat-trick in Arsenal colours. Given much of the discourse around the forward in recent weeks – indeed until the second half – that will be the least of anyone’s worries.

Aubameyang’s replacement, Gabriel Martinelli, was another cause for Arteta to feel optimistic. When the two sides met in the Cup, the promising, young Brazilian pulled up during the warm-up and it was feared his absence would be lengthy.

Such shoots of promise were lacking for Bruce and Newcastle.