Sylvain Wiltord's first goal since mid-September confirmed Arsenal's emergence from their winter slump and Arsene Wenger's side looked a class above Newcastle.

The Magpies were undone by what they would call a bad goal with poor marking and slack attention allowing Thierry Henry and Oleg Luzhny to set up Wiltord's 25th minute tap-in

But although they enjoyed ample possession in the second half after surviving a number of close calls in the first, Newcastle did not have the cutting edge to disrupt an Arsenal defence in which Sol Campbell, passed a late fitness test, to excel alongside the equally steady Pascal Cygan.

Unsurprisingly then, Alan Shearer rarely looked like grabbing the goal he still needs to rack up a Premiership century for the Magpies.

Newcastle came to Highbury to make life hot for the Gunners, testing the temperature of their recent surprise slump.

And the game started at a sprint-pace which barely relented during a game where if you stood still for a few seconds you were likely to be either caught offside or spun up in the air.

It was so hectic that you half expected referee Mike Dean to take some time off at the end of each half instead of adding it.

Such was the fire and commitment but when Dennis Bergkamp latched onto Henry's inviting pass after Vieira had sorted out some meaningful possession in a crowded midfield it looked as though Gunners might again have one of those days when the Dutchman's thumping shot crashed away off a post.

It was not as though he had just had a swing at it. Like almost everything he does, this was Bergkamp probing craftily for an advantage and he had it all measured up apart from the woodwork.

So did Freddie Ljungberg later when Henry's long pass sent the Swede clear to confront Shay Given and then lob over the keeper but onto the top of the crossbar.

In between times, though, Henry had brilliantly created the opener for Wiltord - the little striker's first goal since mid-September. It could hardly have been easier after a move that began with the Gunners deep in defence and Ashley Cole trying to work his way out of trouble by his own left-hand corner flag.

He did so and the move was carried off with patience and virtuosity until it reached Henry on the right corner of the Newcastle box where defenders were drawn to him like moths to a flame.

All of them - particularly Portuguese youngster Viana - forgot about Luzhny, though and Henry coolly waited for the stocky Ukrainian to the overlap on the right, take possession and in acres of space, deliver a pinpoint low cross which Wiltord effortlessly tucked away.

It was the 52nd consecutive match in which Arsenal have hit the target and this time they settled for it earning the full points although they should have had at least two more before the interval.

As well as Ljungberg's near miss Bergkamp and Henry were both denied at close range when Shay Given rode his luck and benefited from a little over-elaboration by the home raiders.

It was right out of the blue when Hugo Viana, having spent all the first half on the back foot against Luzhny and Wiltord, suddenly burst forward and thumped a 25 yarder against the woodwork with David Seaman looking beaten.

But that was a rare opening for Newcastle who won 3-1 in the League at Highbury last December after which Arsenal remained unbeaten the rest of the season to clinch the domestic double.

Henry twice missed a second Arsenal goal by a whisker, Ljungberg and Wiltord saw goalbound shots blocked and Vieira rampaged around driving Arsenal on in his return from suspension.

Wenger sent the recovering Robert Pires on for Bergkamp in the last 20 minutes when Sir Bobby Robson gambled on a double substitution to shake things up, but neither ploy proved conclusive, with Pires missing a good chance to double the measure of the Arsenal.

But with Liverpool losing at Middlesbrough, Wenger and his men willingly settled for moving back to within a point of the leaders.

Teams:
Arsenal: Seaman, Luzhny, Cygan, Campbell, Cole, Ljungberg, Vieira, Silva, Wiltord (Edu 90), Bergkamp (Pires 70), Henry.

Subs Not Used: Taylor, Stepanovs, Toure.

Goals: Wiltord 24.

Newcastle: Given, Griffin, Dabizas, O'Brien, Hughes, Solano (Ameobi 71), Jenas, Speed, Viana (Bernard 71), Shearer, Dyer.

Subs Not Used: Harper, LuaLua, Caldwell.

Booked: Griffin, Viana.

Attendance: 38,121

Referee: M Dean (Wirral).