Arsenal 3 : Newcastle 0
31/08/2008 6:10 AM
of van Persie - who smashed the ball into the roof of the net.
Newcastle was positive following the restart and only the woodwork denied Kevin Keegan's men a way back into the match after 56 minutes when Nicky Butt's flicked header from a left-wing corner dropped onto the crossbar.
It was just one of those days for the visitors as Arsenal wrapped up the match with another superbly-crafted goal in the 59th minute.
Nasri worked himself space in the box, before tapping the ball back to Adebayor.
The Togo frontman simply laid it off sideways, where Denilson was on hand to slip the ball back past the oncoming defender and a wrong-footed Given.
Arsenal could have extended its lead before the final whistle.
Van Persie smashed in an angled drive from almost on the goal-line, which ricocheted off the underside of the bar at the near post.
Given then produced a fine reaction save at point-blank range to keep out Toure's header and also was at full stretch to turn away Nasri's curling free-kick before substitute Theo Walcott pulled an angled drive wide after another swift counter-attack.
Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton, recently released from jail and facing a violent conduct charge from the Football Association, came on for the closing two minutes - to resounding jeers from the home crowd.