By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
At the Emirates Stadium
Arsenal 1 (Koscielny 72)
Newcastle United 0
Newcastle United kicked off 2016 with a cruel 1-0 defeat away at Barclays Premier League leaders Arsenal on Saturday.
Laurent Koscielny's effort midway through the second half was enough to separate the sides at the Emirates Stadium, although the result failed to tell the full story of a match in which the Magpies were outstanding for large parts and arguably created the best chances.
They were unable, however, to find a way past Petr Cech, with the experienced Gunners' goalkeeper pulling off first half stops to deny Georginio Wijnaldum, Jack Colback and Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Early in the second period Cech saved again when one-on-one with Wijnaldum, and that was to prove crucial as, midway through the half, Koscielny stole in at a corner to prod home from point-blank range.
The defeat - a third successive 1-0 loss - was harsh on United, but there plenty of positives for Steve McClaren's side to take to Watford in the third round of the FA Cup next weekend.
Table toppers Arsenal made a bright start and inside the opening two minutes Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain turned full-back Hector Bellerin's cross off target from ten yards.
United were patient in their approach and a first attack came their way in the 11th minute, when a spell of possession eventually saw Moussa Sissoko and Daryl Janmaat combine down the right, with the latter's cross cut out by Petr Cech just before it reached Mitrovic.
And they came even close soon after. Again, having kept the ball well, the Magpies waited for an opportunity, first with Wijnaldum's glancing header parried by Cech, before the loose ball was worked to Colback, who was also denied by the experienced goalkeeper.
The visitors were on top and, just before the half-hour mark, another foray into the final third ended with Perez slashing an angled half-volley wide of the far upright.
Giroud had netted eight goals in seven games against Newcastle and the Frenchman was only denied a ninth by an outstanding block from Fabricio Coloccini in the 37th minute.
Fed by Oxlade-Chamberlain on the left-hand side of the area, the big striker pulled the trigger but saw Coloccini throw himself in front of the ball to divert it behind for a corner.
But United were soon on the front foot again and, with half-time approaching, Cech was forced into action again, this time keeping out an ambitious Mitrovic overhead kick after Laurent Koscielny's header fell invitingly for the Serbian.
After a goalless first half - and a frustrating one for the hosts - you would have expected Arsene Wenger's side to come roaring out of the traps.
But it was, in fact, United who created two great openings inside the first four minutes of the second period.
First, Perez slipped in Wijnaldum, who took a touch but found Cech racing off his line to block the Dutchman's close-range strike. And then when Sissoko's deep cross was helped back across by Perez, Mitrovic could only turn the ball over the bar with his thigh.
On 50 minutes, Magpies' goalkeeper Rob Elliot was called into action for the first time, getting down smartly to his left to keep out Aaron Ramsey's low drive, after the Welshman had exchanged passes with Mesut Ozil.
Despite their excellent showing, the visitors had failed to put away their chances and were made to pay in the 72nd minute, as Arsenal broke the deadlock.
United failed to properly deal with a corner from the right, and when Giroud flicked on, Koscielny nipped in between Perez and Elliot to stab home from a couple of yards.
With just over ten minutes remaining, Florian Thauvin was introduced from the substitutes' bench in place of Jack Colback, and he almost had an immediate impact.
The French winger started the move which saw Wijnaldum and Perez combine for Mitrovic to climb above Koscielny and loop a header onto the roof of the net.
But despite some heavy late pressure, Newcastle were unable to force the equaliser their endeavours deserved.
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Petr Cech; Hector Bellerin, Per Mertesacker (c), Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal; Mathieu Flamini, Aaron Ramsey; Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Joel Campbell 68), Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott (Kieran Gibbs 81); Olivier Giroud (Calum Chambers 89)
Subs not used: David Ospina, Gabriel Paulista, Jeff Reine-Adelaide, Alex Iwobi
Newcastle United (4-5-1): Rob Elliot; Daryl Janmaat, Chancel Mbemba, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Paul Dummett; Moussa Sissoko, Georginio Wijnaldum, Cheick Tiote (Siem de Jong 87), Jack Colback (Florian Thauvin 79), Ayoze Perez; Aleksandar Mitrovic
Subs not used: Karl Darlow, Kevin Mbabu, Jamaal Lascelles, Yoan Gouffran, Ivan Toney
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Greater Manchester)
Bookings: Arsenal - Flamini (82), Ozil (90); Newcastle United - Colback (35), Janmaat (68)
Attendance: 59,257 (2,000 Newcastle)
