Highlights: Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud star as Arsenal saunter to 4-1 victory over Newcastle United

Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud scored two goals apiece

Arsenal caught up on points with the top 5 in the Premier League table courtesy of an emphatic victory over mid-table rivals Newcastle United, with Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud registering twice each on the scoresheet.

What should have been a free-flowing match between two attacking units at the Emirates Stadium, turned into a stop-start encounter with even the slightest physical contact meriting a whistle from referee Lee Mason.

Olivier Giroud gave Arsenal the lead on 15 minutes with a towering header. Danny Welbeck had a goal disallowed contentiously before making an attempt at goal which flew narrowly wide.

Santi Cazorla finally gave Arsenal a 2-0 lead in the 54th minute with a delicate left-footed chip over Newcastle goalkeeper Jak Alnwick. Alexis Sanchez, the only reliable source of goals for the Gunners in recent months, provided the assist for the goal which doubled Arsenal’s lead.

Giroud's second of the match came in the 58th minute following a neat flick at the near post from a Hector Bellerin cross. Newcastle United, lacking the motivational presence of Moussa Sissoko in central midfield, never threatened to challenge the Arsenal lead.

Ayoze Perez did pull a goal back for Newcastle in the 63rd minute to raise hopes of a replay of the famous 4-4 draw the two teams had played out in 2011, but Cazorla's dinked penalty in the 88th minute ensured that Arsenal ran out convincing winners on the night.

The two teams remain on 6th and 7th spot respectively, but while Arsenal are now level on points with higher-placed Southampton, Newcastle are condemned to be looking behind their shoulders for a host of teams to displace them from the top half of the table.

Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle United: Giroud (15’)

Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle United: Cazorla (54’)

Arsenal 3-0 Newcastle United: Giroud (58’)

Arsenal 4-1 Newcastle United: Cazorla (88’)