Granit Xhaka might be playing as a makeshift left-back these days, but he shows us he still hasn't lost his ability to whack a decent long-ranger.

The Arsenal man has a pop, forcing Martin Dubravka to push out for a corner.

Back up in Newcastle, the hosts are still gently pushing for an equaliser. Matt Ritchie swings in another ball from the left, Mat Ryan is tempted to come and gather, but Granit Xhaka is on hand to clear.

Gary Flintoff
BBC Radio 5 live reporter at Old Trafford

We are currently watching around 200 Man Utd supporters who have made their way through the barriers onto the playing surface at Old Trafford.

They are congregating towards the players tunnel and are holding flares, one of which has been thrown towards the TV presentation position.

The stewards at the moment are standing in their positions watching on and this will be interesting in terms of how they manage to clear the stadium before this game can take place today.

It will be a surprise that they have managed to make their way through the barriers in all honesty.

I don't think they really want to destroy anything after all this is their theatre of dreams, but they want to make their point as forcefully as they can and they will feel that they have sent a very clear message to the Man Utd ownership.

Some news to bring you from Old Trafford. Thousands of Manchester United fans were protesting outside the ground at the Glazers' ownership - and some have now managed to get inside the ground and are on the pitch.

After weathering that good spell of pressure from Newcastle, Arsenal manage to venture in the home half.

Willian whips in a right-wing cross towards Aubameyang, but the Arsenal striker cannot make a clean contact. Think it was a shinner.

"Get the ball to Saint-Maximin and let him run at Xhaka," would be my rudimentary tactical instruction to Newcastle if I was Steve Bruce.

If there was one man in an Arsenal shirt who would not be impressed by Saint-Maximin's showboating it was obviously going to be Granit Xhaka.

The Arsenal man whacks his opponent as he loses patience, earning himself a yellow card from Mike Dean.

On a tightrope now...

...but the corner comes to nothing. Gabriel boots clear like he's auditioning for a bitter advert. 'Ave it.

Again, Allan Saint-Maximin is the spark which tries to light something for the home side.

A jinking run from the Newcastle man ends in him shooting goalwards and, although it looks slightly cumbersome, the shot ends up being pushed over by Mat Ryan for a corner.

Things are marginally improving, Ken.

The home side retain possession patiently, forcing Arsenal back into their own half.

Allan Saint-Maximin tries to cross from the right but an Arsenal body gets in the way.

Newcastle try to string a few passes together, with captain Jonjo Shelvey trying to orchestrate proceedings. Not much progress beyond the halfway line though.

Howay man. Jacob Murphy shanks a right-wing cross into the Leazes. Luckily for him the locals aren't there to grumble about how bad it was.

But now Arsenal have some more defending to do. Newcastle have a free-kick on the left, the big lads from the back have been summoned forward.

A delicious left-footed curler from Matt Ritchie threatens to be met by the head of Federico Fernandez, but the Newcastle defender can't get more than a glance on the ball.

Arsenal are looking calm, composed and confident in the opening 10 minutes. They have hogged 70% of the ball so far.

Pat Nevin
Former Chelsea and Scotland winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

A great finish from Elneny.. He keeps it down, he's 16, 17 yards out and it bounces quite high, he's kept it down, got his knee over the ball and got really good pace on it.

Give David Luiz time on the ball and he's like a quarter-back. He pings the ball down the right hand side, straight on to the run of Bellerin who will always get into that space. That was superb play. Good goal Arsenal.

Just had another look at that opening goal. Lovely composure from Elneny.

And it is his first Premier League goal for Arsenal. no wonder his smile is wider than the Tyne.

Allan Saint-Maximin has brought the box of magic tricks today. The Newcastle forward twists and turns, spins and sprints, but can't find a way through the Arsenal defence. A low cross is gathered by Mat Ryan.

Just the tummy settler which Mikel Arteta needed. But straight away his side have some defending to do...