Arsenal Under-21s 4 Newcastle United Under-21s 1 | OneFootball

The young Magpies conceded three times in the first half at Meadow Park as Sebastian Ferdinand's close-range finish and Khayon Edwards' rebound fired the Gunners into a two-goal advantage towards the half-hour mark before Osman Kamara's emphatic finish on the stroke of half-time extended Arsenal's lead further.

Jay Turner-Cooke's penalty gave the visitors a brief lifeline in the contest before Salah Oulad M'hand's free-kick quickly restored Arsenal's three-goal cushion as Newcastle's second-string winless league run extended to four matches.

United goalkeeper James Taylor produced key saves in quick succession during the opening stages of the league encounter, with the Kettering-born shot-stopper holding Michal Rosiak's bending free-kick from the edge of the box before later pushing Jimi Gower's in-swinging cross from the left wing out for a corner.

Newcastle's youngsters, however, trailed in the 17th minute through Ferdinand as the Gunners forward met Rosiak's headed pass at the back post following an initial teasing cross into the penalty area before rifling the ball home from inside the six-yard area.

Taylor was forced into action again, this time tipping Kamara's shot from the edge of the box over his own crossbar but, in the 27th minute, Arsenal doubled their lead through Edwards as Salah Oulad M'hand's initial shot was parried into the Gunners striker's path, who placed the ball into the net.

Arsenal struck the post in the closing stages of the opening 45 minutes as Kamara's curling shot struck the foot of the far right-hand post before the ball was cleared to safety.

With the half-time whistle approaching, Newcastle's goal deficit increased as the Gunners winger netted the hosts' third goal of the night, racing onto a lofted through ball before bending a low shot into the right-hand corner.

Turner-Cooke created Newcastle's maiden shot on target in the opening minute of the second half as the South Shields-born midfielder, who made his first-team bow for Eddie Howe's side during a 5-0 win against Al-Hilal in December 2022, saw a low effort inside the box held by Gunners goalkeeper Tommy Setford.

Garang Kuol, who represented Australia at the 2022 World Cp finals in Qatar, went close to netting a fourth goal in his last six matches at under-21 level as the Cairo-born youngster drove from distance before unleashing a powerful, low drive which flew narrowly past the left-hand post.

Rory Powell went agonisingly close to scoring his first goal at under-21 level as Cathal Heffernan's close-range header from Jay Turner-Cooke's cross was parried by Setford, making the teenage full-back unable to adjust himself as his stretching header was directed over the crossbar.

Newcastle were awarded a penalty in the closing stages as Magpies defender Ciaran Thompson completed a positive run into the box before the Blyth-born defender was bundled over inside the box, with Turner-Cooke calmly dispatching the resulting spot-kick.

Arsenal restored their three-goal advantage one minute later through Oulad M'hand as the Arsenal skipper's bending free-kick from distance flew into the top right-hand corner.

Newcastle's second-string turn their attention to National League Cup action on Tuesday, 25th February when Diarmuid O'Carroll's side face Altrincham in the quarter-final stages at the J. Davidson Stadium (kick-off 7.30pm GMT).