Arsenal 3-0 Newcastle United

What a difference a week ago.

Seven days ago, Arsenal were outplayed and outfought by a team in black and white. As a result, their entire campaign came under scrutiny.

This afternoon, 10 of the 11 players were asked to repair its reputation against another team in black and white. They responded with a performance of champions.

Robin van Persie scored with a penalty and a close range shot in a lop-sided first half. Denilson added another just before the hour.

After all it 3-0 but could have been twice. Newcastle was listless throughout the afternoon and its only real danger came from Michael Owen. Although it was fleeting.

The home fans were chanting the name of Emmanuel Adebayor in the end. An important moment, perhaps, an important week.

Of course, Arsenal did not win anything in the back of this performance are the same as ever not lose anything at Craven Cottage. The real benefit will be to their confidence.

And if you are wondering about the player who did not appear last week, but today is Cesc Fabregas.

Of course, the Spanish has made its reappearance on Wednesday competitive in the 4-0 drubbing of Twente.

Compared with that side, there were three changes. Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor resumed their positions at the expense of Johan Djourou.

Meanwhile, Emmanuel Eboue came to the right of Theo Walcott.

Having fought so strangely to Fulham, Arsenal seems intended to show their true colors straight from the kick-off this afternoon.

In the first 90 seconds had a penalty shout when Fabricio Coloccini appeared to reduce Van Persie close to the line.

A couple of minutes later, the Dutch have cut a corner near the entrance, Bacary Sagna flick to William Gallas and seems certain to sweep home from five yards. Somehow he cut his shot onto the bar.

The former Arsenal fire continued to smoulder when Kolo Toure Strode forward and let fly from 30 yards with a unit that has been converted brilliantly round the post.

It took another 10 minutes for Arsenal to set up the goal, but territorially, they were in total control.

The strike owed something to good fortune. Adebayor cross from the right certainly hit the outstretched arm of Charles N'Zogbia. However, it was one of those decisions that sometimes occurs, sometimes not. This afternoon referee Rob Styles pointed to the ground.

Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given was the right way, but Van Persie's spot-kick was almost perfect - low, fast and hit the sidenetting.

Arsenal now has its strut back. Lack of trust so that last week was in abundance.

Van Persie has been cut laterally ran just outside the area. The Dutch took the kick himself and forced flying open with his hands stop.

A couple of minutes later, Toure rattled a unit in sidenetting. It's more than one-way traffic. It was like a highway heading directly into the Newcastle goal.

Having said that, Michael Owen had a wonderful opportunity to equalize eight minutes before the break. Jonas Gutierrez skipped past Fabregas and Gael Clichy on the right and his cross found the England striker unmarked at the far post. His shot was poor, but the proximity of team-mate Shola Ameobi may have outside it.

However normal service was restored shortly thereafter.

First, Adebayor stormed through drip a shot wide. Then, four minutes from the whistle, Van Persie received his second.

Eboue nudges the ball to Adebayor on the right and raced into the area to obtain the return. The Côte d'Ivoire is facing away from goal, but is aware the Dutch had scampered in the area behind it. Eboue intelligent back-heel of a sliding Van Persie to stab home from eight yards.

You feel that game was over. But Owen is proving to be a continuing threat. At the time of the injury caused a deep post header just over the bar.

Arsenal seemed content with their example, immediately after the break. Nicky Butt even caused a minor scare scuffing a header to the top of the bar.

However, the home side secured the points just before the hour when Samir Nasri court within Adebayor and Denilson ably fed to slot home from the edge of the area. A beautifully produced goal.

Two minutes later, Van Persie picked up the ball near the left p, beat his marker and lashed an angle bold campaign against the underside of the bar.

It was the end of Dutch contribution. Seconds later was replaced by Carlos Vela, the Mexican first competitive appearance for Arsenal.

The game had officially begun. The fans celebrated by singing the name of Adebayor and Gael Clichy, yet to score as a professional, tried his luck from 30 yards.

More possibilities to follow. Toure hammered a header into the chest of Given with 16 minutes, Nasri of another free-kick forced a fine save from Given and Gallas saw his effort cleared off the line.

But the closest Arsenal came to another was 4-0 in 88 minutes when an unmarked Walcott collected Adebayor's pass to the right of the area.

He had time and space to shoot but pulled his shot wide.

The whistle blew shortly thereafter.

It has been a good week.