Arsenal produced a superb display of counter-attacking football to press their own title claims and dent those of Newcastle with a 2-0 victory at St James' Park.

The Gunners stretched their unbeaten run to 16 games to go level on points with leaders Manchester United for a day at least.

A brilliant 11th-minute strike by Dennis Bergkamp nudged the Londoners in front and a second from Sol Campbell four minutes before the break ended Newcastle's proud record of six consecutive victories.

And few of the 52,067 spectators who witnessed it would begrudge the Londoners their win as the pace of Robert Pires and the guile of Bergkamp proved too hot to handle.

Newcastle did not play badly and Alan Shearer, Gary Speed, Nolberto Solano and Laurent Robert all forced good saves from David Seaman but the Gunners were the better side and thoroughly deserved the three points.

Newcastle missed injured striker Craig Bellamy badly, but Arsene Wenger's side made light of Thierry Henry's absence to demonstrate their greater strength in depth.

The expectations of the home fans were given a boost even before kick-off when it was confirmed that Henry had not travelled for Arsenal.

But their hopes were cruelly dashed as Wenger's side served up a slick first-half display which combined rugged defence with lung-busting counter-attacking.

By the time Newcastle trudged off the pitch at the break, they had been undone twice, and despite enjoying more of the ball, could not find a way past veteran goalkeeper Seaman.

What Arsenal had lost in the pace of Henry, they made up for by getting the ball to his compatriot Pires as often as possible.

It was Pires who carved out the opening goal on 11 minutes but Bergkamp put the icing on the cake as he flicked the ball around Nikos Dabizas, span and calmly slotted his shot past the helpless Shay Given.

Newcastle surged forward in numbers in a bid to restore parity but chances were few and far between, and when they did arrive, Seaman was in no mood to surrender his clean sheet.

Twice within in a minute he denied the Tynesiders, parrying Solano's dipping volley and then clawing away a Speed header from a corner.

But just as Newcastle managed to get a foothold in the game, their spirits were crushed again four minutes before the break.

The Gunners were awarded a free-kick on the right and Bergkamp curled the ball to the far post where Campbell arrived on cue to send a downward header past Given.

Newcastle returned after the break determined to impose themselves on the game, but although they continued to put the Gunners rearguard under intense pressure, still the breakthrough would not come.