If the Gunners were looking for a nerve-settling start, their chances of getting one were dashed with just over 70 seconds on the clock, as Jacob Murphy’s shot smacked the base of the post, setting the tone for a fast and furious first period.
And as Newcastle kept up the type of relentless attacking play that saw them finish April by netting 13 goals across three games, referee Chris Kavanagh awarded the hosts an early penalty after Jakub Kiwior’s apparent handball inside the area. But a VAR review saw the decision overturned, as the ball was shown to have struck his leg first, giving Arsenal a huge let-off.
As the visitors searched frantically for something to silence a St James' Park crowd now at fever pitch, Odegaard came up with the goods in the 14th minute, as his low 25-yard strike arrowed into the bottom corner, consigning Nick Pope to a seventh consecutive game without a clean sheet.
The Magpies stopper soon made amends, however, saving successive one-on-ones from Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka as well as a close-range effort from the Norwegian just before the interval to keep his side firmly in the contest.
Newcastle were next to up the ante in what remained an action-packed contest, with Alexander Isak kick-starting a flurry of chances by heading against the post.
The in-form Swede’s team-mate, Fabian Schar, went one better moments later by hitting the target, but Aaron Ramsdale’s reflexes were up to the challenge as he pawed the ball to safety, seeing Arsenal through a treacherous period in the second half.
Martinelli played a starring role thereafter and curled an intelligent effort onto the crossbar before inspiring his side’s killer second, with a lung-busting run down the left flank and a low cross that was turned into his own net by Schar.
While Newcastle made some sporadic runs deep into enemy territory and sent a number of efforts wide, the day was always Arsenal’s after that second goal, leaving Newcastle’s heady mid-1990s Keegan era as the last occasion on which they won successive home league games against the Gunners.
In tasting defeat, Newcastle opened the door for Manchester United to snatch third place and for Liverpool to close the gap on them, but Eddie Howe’s side are still well on course to give supporters European football for the first time since 2012/13.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are now unbeaten in their last 13 Premier League fixtures to take place on a Sunday, and they will get the chance to extend that streak against Brighton next weekend.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)
