We played the game we love, said Arsene Wenger after his Arsenal side made short work in dismissing Newcastle s Premier League challenge at Saturday teatime. The Gunners were rampant – a complete contrast to that perplexing display at Fulham the previou

We played the game we love," said Arsene Wenger after his Arsenal side made short work in dismissing Newcastle's Premier League challenge at Saturday teatime.

The Gunners were rampant - a complete contrast to that perplexing display at Fulham the previous week - with Robin van Persie netting twice and Denilson grabbing the other, moving them into fourth place in the table.

Van Persie opened the scoring in the 18th-minute from the penalty spot after Charles N'Zogbia handled Emmanuel Adebayor's cross.

The Holland striker then added a second four minutes before the interval when he smashed the ball into the roof of Shay Given's net after a clever backheel from Emmanuel Eboue.

Nicky Butt headed against the bar for Newcastle as the visitors improved after the break but Arsenal were always the more likely scorers and added a third with a superb angled drive by Denilson just before the hour.

Van Persie was then denied a hat-trick when his effort hit the underside of the bar.

But by then Newcastle, who introduced Joey Barton in the 89th minute to a chorus of boos from another Emirates sell-out, were finished.

"I am very pleased with the performance because it was a complete one," added Wenger.

"Offensively and defensively, we had a good balance in our team, great movement and, apart from 10 minutes at the beginning of the second half where we suffered a little bit, we were always in control."

The Emirates remains a fortress for the Gunners.

Three competitive fixtures at home this season have yielded three wins, three clean sheets and eight goals. It's nearly 21 months since their one and only defeat at the new stadium.