GOALS at the start of each half from David Ginola and Les Ferdinand left Newcastle seven points clear of Manchester United at the top of the English FA Premiership and they also enjoy a game in hand.
Ginola gave Kevin Keegan's side the perfect start as they sought to respond to their 2-0 Old Trafford defeat, thumping home after just 56 seconds. However, it was Ferdinand who copper fastened the win when he crashed home his 22nd goal of the season just after the break. Last night's victory makes it 11 home wins out of 11 this season.
Apart from Blackburn, Arsenal were the only Premiership side Ferdinand had failed to score against, but he put that right by fastening on to a Warren Barton ball down the middle and leaving Tony Adams trailing.
Ferdinand's strike was as firm as he could manage, low to David Seaman's right, and although the England goalkeeper got his hand to the ball - as he had to Ginola's opener - it had enough pace to roll over the line.
It could have been more, as Paul Kitson struck the post, but two goals were enough to sink Arsenal, whose run of just one win in eight Premiership games proves their own title hopes are all but over.
The manner of Newcastle's victory also gives them a huge psychological advantage ahead of next week's League Cup quarter final at Highbury.
The return of Adams and Steve Bould gave Arsenal a more solid looking and familiar shape, while the inclusion of Ray Parlour indicated Rioch's defensive concerns. But before the central defensive pairing could reacquaint themselves with Lee Dixon and Nigel Winterburn, they were behind, with the goal involving two men making their first League starts since April.
Robbie Elliott played the ball in to Ginola, who chested towards Kitson and moved for the return. From 25 yards, the Frenchman took aim and struck the ball well, although the diving David Seaman appeared to have done enough by pushing out a hand, only for it to strike the inside of his left hand post and drop over the line.
It was the start Rioch must, have dreaded, although Arsenal could have been on terms instantly, Pavel Srnicek saving at the second attempt from Paul Merson after Ian Wright had knocked the ball back.
For a period both defences were in trouble, Seaman saving from Peter Beardsley and Kitson, Dennis Bergkamp scuffing a shot when well placed and Steve Howey's outstretched foot just preventing the Dutchman sending Wright in.
As the half wore on, Keegan's decision to bring back Philippe Albert as a third central defender, with Lee Clark omitted, looked more questionable as Arsenal's midfield stifled the home side.
Newcastle needed a roaring start after the break and Ferdinand provided that two minutes into the second period. The goal certainly fired Keegan's men up and for the next few minutes the question looked like being how many they would get.
Kitson, inadvertently set up by Parlour, crashed an effort against Seaman's right hand post and won the race to the rebound, but shot tamely at the goalkeeper. Then Ginola fired over, before Rob Lee's lob nearly caught Seaman out.
Arsenal were still in the contest, though, and twice in a minute it needed Srnicek - extended for the first time to maintain Newcastle's advantage. First, the otherwise anonymous David Platt burst on to Bergkamp's touch for an angled cross shot and when the resulting corner was worked back in, Adams goalbound header was punched clear. But that was as close as Arsenal were to get.
