Arsenal produced a superb display of counter-attacking football to press their own title claims and dent those of Newcastle.

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 at St James' Park 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.

Bobby Robson had warned that his squad is not yet strong enough to mount a genuine challenge for the championship but he will have drawn some comfort from an assured display by £5million new signing Jermaine Jenas, who, at 19, showed little sign of being afraid of his battle with Patrick Vieira.

The expectations of the home fans arriving at St James' Park were given a boost even before kick-off when it was confirmed that Thierry Henry had not travelled.

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 keeper 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.

Few players to date this season have got the better of Newcastle full-back Aaron Hughes but the French winger showed him a clean pair of heels more than once as the visitors broke at break-neck speed.

But if it was Pires who carved out the opening goal on 11 minutes, it was Bergkamp who 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.

The Irishman produced a fine save at the death to deny Sylvain Wiltord after another swift break, but there was despair in black and white hearts when referee Neale Barry temporarily put them out of their misery.

Newcastle returned 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.

Seaman saved a long range Speed effort with little difficulty and Campbell got a good block on shot from Shola Ameobi, but it was Jenas who went closest when he fired over from 15 yards on 56 minutes.

However, the England keeper had to be at his best a minute later when Shearer got in front of his marker and headed Robert's cross towards the bottom corner.

Given matched his opposite number with a fine stop from Oleg Luzhny's volley on the hour as Arsenal continued to threaten on the break.

Igor Stepanovs denied Jenas a first goal for his new club with a well-timed 66th-minute challenge and Seaman saved well from Robert seven minutes from time but there was to be no twist in the tail.

Teams:

Newcastle: Given, Hughes (Cort 82), Distin, O'Brien, Dabizas, Solano, Jenas, Speed, Robert, Ameobi (Lua-Lua 64), Shearer.

Subs Not Used: Elliott, Acuna, Harper.

Arsenal: Seaman, Dixon, Stepanovs, Campbell, Luzhny, Lauren, Vieira, Grimandi, Pires, Bergkamp (Kanu 70), Wiltord (Edu 87).

Subs Not Used: Wright, Aliadiere, Halls.

Booked: Pires.

Goals: Bergkamp 11, Campbell 41.

Att: 52,067

Ref: N Barry (Scunthorpe).