Arsenal 4-1 Newcastle, by Tashan Deniran-Alleyne at Ashburton Grove

Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla both scored twice as Arsenal eased to a comfortable 4-1 win over in-form Newcastle United at Ashburton Grove on Saturday evening.

The Gunners produced a clinical display in front of goal to bounce back from last weekend’s disappointing defeat away at Stoke City and manager Arsene Wenger was delighted with the performance.

“We can score goals,” Wenger said. “We showed that again tonight and overall it was a dynamic game where defensively, despite the fact we were a bit depleted at the back, we were quite solid and going forward we always looked dangerous.

“In the end we won in a convincing way, we scored four goals that was of course needed. The response was strong after the Stoke game.”

Per Mertesacker had already hit the crossbar before Giroud powerfully headed an Alexis Sanchez cross into the net for a deserved 14th minute lead.

Danny Welbeck had a goal ruled out and volleyed another effort just wide as the Gunners pressed for a second.

Newcastle had not offered much going forward in the first half hour but were unlucky not to be on level terms as Wojciech Szczesny produced two point-blanks saves to deny Mike Williamson and Papiss Cisse following a set-piece.

Cazorla, on his 30th birthday, doubled the lead soon after the restart, skipping past a challenge from Fabricio Coloccini in the area to lift the ball over Jak Alnwick and into the back of the net.

The third arrived moments later thanks to a brilliant finish from Giroud, turning home Hector Bellerin’s cross with a deft flick with the outside of his boot at the near post for his second of the game.

Ayoze Perez grabbed a consolation for the visitors after the hour mark as he glanced a header past Szczesny but Cazorla capped off an impressive performance with his second of the game late on, dinking the ball in from the spot after Paul Dummett tripped Welbeck in the area.

Afterwards Magpies manager Alan Pardew admitted his side were second best and paid the price for chasing the game.

“A lot of credit has to go to Arsenal, they didn’t give us a lot of time,” he said. “They were quicker and faster but we grew into the game a little bit and had a good spell before half-time.

“We had a chance to equalise which we should have taken and second half it was a little too open for my liking. We took a risk at times and got punished for it.”