Matt Ritchie fired Newcastle past the 40-point mark as they came from behind to beat Arsenal and claim a fourth-successive Premier League win.

The Scotland international’s third goal of the season added the Gunners scalp to the one he collected from Manchester United in February after Ayoze Perez had cancelled out Alexandre Lacazette’s opener.

A 2-1 victory – which ended the Europa League semi-finalists’ seven-game unbeaten run in all competitions – took the Magpies to 41 points and more importantly, 13 clear of the relegation zone to the delight of the majority of a 52,210 crowd.

Tweet of the match

“Stay strong Arsenal fans. Still feel you’re capable of finishing above Burnley,” – Match of the Day host and former Tottenham striker Gary Lineker fired over a sarcastic tweet as his former rivals sit sixth in the table and just two points above the Clarets.
‏

Star man – Mohamed Elneny

Mohamed Elneny
Mohamed Elneny kept the ball moving throughout the match for the Gunners (John Walton/PA)

The Arsenal midfielder may have have ended up on the losing side, but the fault was not his. He kept the ball moving for his team all afternoon and was always available to receive it as he attempted to link with the men in front of him.

Pass Master

Jonjo Shelvey’s rich vein of form continued as he displayed a range of passing which helped to keep Newcastle in a game which might otherwise have run away from them. He delivered a series of long balls off both feet which allowed lone striker Dwight Gayle to stretch the Gunners’ back four and relieved pressure on his own team.

Joe’s woes

Teenager Joe Willock was handed his big chance when Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger named him in his team for the first time in the Premier League. The 18-year-old midfielder might have marked his debut with a first-half goal, but fluffed his lines with just goalkeeper Martin Dubravka to beat when he miskicked from Lacazette’s inviting pass.

Player ratings

Newcastle: Martin Dubravka 7, DeAndre Yedlin 6, Jamaal Lascelles 7, Florian Lejeune 6, Paul Dummett 6, Jonjo Shelvey 7, Mohamed Diame 7, Matt Ritchie 7, Kenedy 7, Ayoze Perez 7, Dwight Gayle 7. Subs: Islam Slimani 7 (for Gayle, 63), Joselu (for Perez, 79) 6, Jacob Murphy (for Ritchie, 85) 6.

Arsenal: Petr Cech 6, Calum Chambers 7, Shkodran Mustafi 6, Rob Holding 6, Nacho Monreal 7, Granit Xhaka 7, Mohamed Elneny 8, Joe Willock 6, Alex Iwobi 7, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 7, Alexandre Lacazette 7. Subs: Danny Welbeck (for Willock, 68) 6, Ainsley Maitland-Niles (for Chambers, 78) 6, Eddie Nketiah (for Iwobi, 86) 6.

Who’s up next?

Everton v Newcastle, Premier League, Monday, April 23

Arsenal v West Ham, Premier League, Sunday, April 22