Arsenal made a winning start to the Premier League campaign with a 1-0 victory at Newcastle on Sunday. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored the only goal of the game.
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| Aubameyang has scored 32% of Arsenal's Premier League goals since his debut in February 2018 |
It proved to be the crucial strike as the Gunners, who handed Premier League debuts to new signings Nicolas Pepe, Dani Ceballos and Gabriel Martinelli from the bench, ensured Steve Bruce's reign as Newcastle head coach began with defeat.
Jonjo Shelvey had the home fans off their seats again moments later as Leno touched his powerful drive onto the post, but it was Arsenal, who created the chance of the first half.
Nacho Monreal latched onto Granit Xhaka's long pass before laying the ball off to Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who lashed the ball high over Dubravka's crossbar.
Dubravka was eventually called into action when Mkhitaryan's pass released Aubameyang, who was denied by the Slovakian goalkeeper at his near post.
The visitors almost forced the breakthrough in the second-half when Xhaka picked out the run of Aubameyang, but Paul Dummett got across well to block the striker's 52nd-minute effort.
Player ratings
Newcastle: Dubravka (7), Manquillo, Schar (6), Lascelles (7), Dummett (7), Ritchie (6), Shelvey (6), Hayden (6), Longstaff (6), Almiron (7), Joelinton (7).
Subs: Willems (5), Saint-Maximin (6)
Arsenal: Leno (8), Maitland-Niles (8), Chambers (7), Sokratis (7), Monreal (7), Guendouzi (7), Xhaka (7), Willock (6), Mkhitaryan (6), Nelson (6), Aubameyang (7).
Subs: Ceballos (6), Pepe (6), Martinelli (6).
Man of the match: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Team news
Newcastle head coach Steve Bruce handed record signing Joelinton a competitive debut in his first Premier League game at the helm against Arsenal.
The £40m Brazilian striker was included in the starting line-up with fellow new arrivals Emil Krafth, Jetro Willems and Allan Saint-Maximin named among the substitutes.
Arsenal new boys David Luiz, Dani Ceballos, Nicolas Pepe and Gabriel Martinelli all started on the bench, as did frontman Alexandre Lacazette with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang asked to lead the line.
However, the Gabon international was not to be denied for long and he fired his side into the lead six minutes later when Maitland-Niles intercepted Dummett's attempted pass to substitute Jetro Williams and then crossed for Aubamyenag, who controlled before lifting the ball over the advancing Dubravka.
Bruce sent on new signing Allan Saint-Maximin as Newcastle went in search of an equaliser and the Frenchman forced Leno into a late save, but ultimately the hosts could not find a way through the Gunners defence.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates opening the scoring for Arsenal
Opta stats
Arsenal won and kept a clean sheet in their opening game of a Premier League season for the first time since 2008-09 (1-0 against West Brom). This clean sheet also equals their tally away from home for the entire 2018-19 Premier League season (one).
Newcastle manager Steve Bruce suffered defeat in his first game at a new club for the first time since December 2001, when he began his Birmingham City reign with a 2-1 defeat to Wolves in the second tier.
Since making his Premier League debut for Arsenal in February 2018, only Mo Salah (36) has scored more goals in the competition than Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (33).
What's next?
Arsenal now host Burnley on Saturday at 12.30pm, while Newcastle go to Norwich at 3pm, also on Saturday.
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