Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ensured Steve Bruce’s reign as Newcastle head coach began with a defeat as Arsenal launched their new Premier League campaign with victory on Tyneside.
Aubameyang’s assured 58th-minute strike was enough to secure a 1-0 victory in a tight encounter at a rain-soaked St James’ Park.
Gunners boss Unai Emery was happy with both the performance and the result on a day when summer arrivals Dani Ceballos, Nicolas Pepe and Gabriel Martinelli were introduced from the bench as teenagers Reiss Nelson and Joe Willock had been given chances.
Emery, whose side did not record their first clean sheet away from home last season until April, said: “But before that, I want to win. I want to win, I want to score and I want to do a clean sheet. Today we won and we did that.
(Image: Stuart MacFarlane)
“The balance offensively and defensively is only taken with the victory. Today in our 90 minutes, we could do that. Also, we created chances and we need also to create chances for our strikers and today with Auba, we won.”
Asked about his new signings, Emery added: “David Luiz did pre-season with another team and he is OK to play physically, but he only trained completely with us yesterday. On Friday, he did 30 minutes with us.
(Image: REUTERS)
“Nicolas Pepe came one week ago and physically he needs to get his best fitness to be ready to play 100 per cent for 90 minutes. Today, 20 minutes is good for him.
“And Ceballos is in the middle because he came before Pepe, but he got an injury and he stopped training. But he needs to know the Premier League, so today was important for him and for us.”
