Arsenal seized the initiative in the race for the top four as a 2-0 victory over Newcastle on  lifted them above Tottenham and Man Utd into third in the Premier League
Goals in either half from Aaron Ramsey and Alexandre Lacazette secured a deserved win which saw Unai Emery's side equal last season's points total under Arsene Wenger with seven games to spare
The scoreline was generous on Newcastle, who registered just a single effort on target and were indebted to goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, who kept the Gunners at bay with a string of saves
A 10th successive home league victory - the first time Arsenal have achieved this May 1998 - moves them two points above Spurs and United and into pole position to secure qualification for the Champions League
Arsenal thought they had taken the lead on 13 minutes when Ramsey found the back of the net after Sead Kolasinac flicked a corner into his path, but referee Anthony Taylor halted the celebrations after spotting Sokratis Papastathopoulos had tugged Florian Lejeune's shirt
It took until the half-hour mark for either side to register an attempt on goal when Ramsey, not to be denied, finished an attack he initiated with a clinical finish off the inside of the post to give Arsenal a deserved lead
A defensive lapse from Sokratis presented Salomon Rondon with the chance to score an instant equaliser, but Bernd Leno was alert at his near post to preserve Arsenal's lead, allowing the free-flowing Gunners to lay siege to the Newcastle goal in search of second before half-time
Ramsey and Kolasinac drew goalkeeper Dubravka into action in quick succession before a stunning goal-line clearance from Matt Ritchie prevented Lacazette's shot on the swivel from doubling the hosts' lead
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang came off the bench and ensured the Gunners remained on top, stinging Dubravka's palms with a rasping drive on 72 minutes
Newcastle threatened to mount a late rally, but it was snuffed out in emphatic fashion as Aubameyang's clever flick released Lacazette in behind Newcastle captain Jamaal Lascelles, and the Frenchman lofted a glorious second over the advancing Dubravka
Lacazette had a quick-fire second harshly ruled out four minutes from time after referee Taylor ruled he had fouled Dubravka before heading a corner home, but that proved immaterial as the Gunners set their sights on a return to the Champions League
 "We were good individually; our players gave us quality and they worked for the team
 We were improving little by little and our first goal helped us a lot
 We are making progress in the table, but we know it is difficult, Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester United are going to win a lot of games
""We were close, but it was about chances in the final third
 We tried to attack but they are good team at home - they play and pressed
 The final third we have been speaking all season, the final third you have to spend £40m, £50m, £75m
"It was a joy to watch Ozil at his free-flowing best
 The architect of everything Arsenal did well, Ozil effortlessly pulled the strings in midfield and would have had another few assists to go with his display had it not been for Dubravka
 Like him or loathe him, when he's in this kind of mood, is there a better playmaker in the Premier League?Arsenal travel to Everton on Renault Super Sunday, live on  Before that, Newcastle host Crystal Palace at St
 James' Park on Saturday at 3pm
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