ARSENAL 5 NEWCASTLE 0

Parlour became the first player since Malcolm MacDonald to hit three goals in this fixture and the game was over as a contest after the England international midfielder finished off a stunning Arsenal move to get his side's second goal.

With Stephen Caldwell deputising at the centre of the Newcastle defence and Tresor Lomano Lua Lua left to plough a lonely furrow upfront, the visitors' best hope always seemed to be a point and the possession football they started off playing seemed to indicate this is what they were looking for.

In the opening five minutes it was Kieron Dyer at the centre of everything as The Magpies looked to keep the ball, however, Kanu and Thierry Henry's movement always caused Newcastle problems.

For the first ten minutes both sides tested each other, but there appeared little in the way of chances being created despite space being found.

This dramatically changed in the 11th minute, Tony Adams picked up the ball from Alex Manninger and launched a long through ball, Aaron Hughes appeared to slip which let in Henry and he finished lethally from just inside the box, giving Shay Given no chance with the opening goal of the game.

If this knocked the visitors' confidence, they lost it entirely four minutes later.  Andy Griffin was deep in Arsenal territory when Freddie Ljungberg challenged him for the ball, it broke free and the Swedish star galloped clear.

Ljungberg slipped a ball to Kanu in the centre of the pitch, he hit an exquisite ball with the outside of his foot into the path of Parlour.

Parlour strode on before finishing confidently with the outside of his right foot past Given for Arsenal's second.

Newcastle almost conceded a third in the 17th minute when only a late whistle from the assistant referee, with Henry and Kanu appearing to be running back onside, stopped Ljungberg going in one on one with Given.

Given had to be quick off his blocks a minute later when the offside trap was breached again, as the Irish keeper headed clear with Kanu closing in.

Nolberto Solano's 22nd minute free kick that went over the bar was one of only two chances Newcastle had in the first half, whilst at the other end Pires had a great opportunity to make it three but hit his shot straight at Given.

It took until the 27th minute for the first and only booking of the game, Caldwell shown the yellow card for going in from behind on Kanu, however, neither side lost their commitment and Clarence Acuna and Parlour in particular were strong in the challenge.

Dyer had The Magpies' best chance of the half, latching onto a flick on before heading goalwards, but unlike his Liverpool goal, Martin Keown successfully marshalled the exciting midfielder to safety, despite Manninger racing out of his net.

Griffin almost became the second player to be booked when he went in hard on Parlour, but he only received a talking to from referee Dean.

Pires and Ljungberg both went close to making it three as the first half drew to a close.

Any thoughts of Newcastle getting back into the game almost disappaited in the 49th minute as Henry again broke clear but Given saved with his legs.

An almost identical move in the 52nd minute saw Henry fire in a low cross that seemed perfect for Kanu but Hughes wrapped his boot around the ball to clear with the goal gaping.

With all their pressure in the second half it seemed that the third was only a matter of time and it arrived in the 55th minute and again it was a simple affair.

Ljungberg's long through ball down the centre of the pitch found Kanu with no Newcastle defender in sight and he stroked the ball past Given.

Both Arsene Wenger and Robson realised the game was as good as over as they began ringing the changes.  Lauren replaced Gilles Grimandi in the 62nd minute and Dennis Bergkamp came on for Kanu, whilst Didier Domi and Stephen Glass attempted to shore up the left side of Newcastle by replacing Rob Lee and Andy Griffin.

The last 20 minutes saw more of the same - long ball stretching the tired Magpies defence and the Arsenal players being given the freedom of Highbury.

Henry was denied by Given in another one on one situation whilst at the other end Manninger was called into action for the first time, beating away Dyer's near post drive.

Just as it seemed that Newcastle would escape with a 3-0 defeat, the Gunners struck two goals in four minutes.

In the 83rd minute Given did superbly to thwart Bergkamp three times as again the off-trap was breached but in the 86th minute, Pires found space on the right to cross and Parlour was left alone in the six-yard box and he placed his header inside the post for his fourth.

On the stroke of full time, Parlour made it five, Henry lobbing the ball over a flat-footed defence and with Barton playing both Pires and Parlour onside, the Frenchman played in his team-mate, who slotted the ball home for his hat-trick.