By lunchtime on December 26th, Arsenal will have a clearer idea of where their season in the Premiership is heading. Either Arsene Wenger's team will be in with a realistic chance of usurping Manchester United's throne or they will continue to keep a respectful distance. At least Arsenal have rediscovered their scoring touch. On Saturday they showed scant sympathy to a weakened Newcastle. Ray Parlour scored three of Arsenal's five goals as well as giving an industrious performance. However, it was the pace and technique of Thierry Henry which left Newcastle quivering. "We needed to win today," said Wenger. "This victory will give us the confidence we need for our next two games at Tottenham and Liverpool." And Leicester City at home on December 26th. Wenger is right nonetheless. United's draw at Charlton may have enabled Arsenal to reduce their lead to six points but if Alex Ferguson's side beat Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday Arsenal will face a nine-point gap when they go to White Hart Lane the following evening. Wenger, therefore, will have been pleased to achieve such a convincing win over Newcastle without the unfit Patrick Vieira and Silvinho and with Dennis Bergkamp reduced to a walk-on part. Bobby Robson was without Alan Shearer and was forced by other injuries to play the less-experienced Aaron Hughes and Steve Caldwell at centre-back with Robert Lee screening them.

The plan was undone in the 13th minute, when Henry cut inside Hughes to send a low shot into the far corner, and completely unravelled three minutes later as Parlour drove in his first goal after Fredrik Ljungberg and Kwankwo Kanu caught Newcastle on the break.

Once Kanu had slipped in Arsenal's third soon after half-time, Newcastle were reduced to damage limitation. But Parlour was far from done and scored twice more in the last four minutes. Wenger reckoned that Parlour made better scoring runs playing in central midfield than wide on the right. Clearly Arsenal will not be attempting to catch Manchester United from the wings. It remains to be seen if they have sufficiently enduring qualities to oust them from centre stage.

ARSENAL: Manninger, Dixon, Keown, Adams, Vivas, Ljungberg (Luzhny 82), Pires, Parlour, Grimandi (Lauren 58), Henry, Kanu (Bergkamp 67). Subs Not Used: Wiltord, Lukic. Goals: Henry 13, Parlour 16, Kanu 52, Parlour 86, 90.

NEWCASTLE: Given, Barton, Acuna, S Caldwell, Hughes, Speed, Griffin (Domi 66), Lee (Glass 66), Dyer (Cordone 79), Lua-Lua, Solano. Subs Not Used: Bassedas, Harper. Booked: S Caldwell, Speed.

Referee: M Dean (The Wirral).