Newcastle 0-1 Arsenal PLAYER RATINGS: Chancel Mbemba looks a real find but Theo Walcott struggled in centre-forward role

• e-mail

Newcastle were made to pay for Aleksandar Mitrovic's first-half sending off as Fabricio Coloccini's own goal sealed an important victory for Arsenal at St James' Park.

Mitrovic received his marching orders following a stamp on Francis Coquelin before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's dangerous ball deflected in off Coloccini to settle the affair. 

Here, Sportsmail's Craig Hope assesses the performances of the players from both sides.

Steve McClaren grimaces as his side are put under intense pressure by Arsene Wenger's Arsenal side

Newcastle (4-2-3-1)

Tim Krul 7 – Unfortunate to concede via a deflection having just saved brilliantly from Ramsey. He’d earlier kept Arsenal at bay with a string of fine saves.

Daryl Janmaat 7– Got the better of Sanchez in their duel and continues to look like on the best right backs in the Premier League.

Fabricio Coloccini 7 – Was unlucky for his part in Arsenal’s goal, sliding to block but deflecting in. He had marshalled the back four well and dealt with the threat of Walcott.

Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul was a stand-out performer for his side despite Saturday's narrow defeat

Chancel Mbemba 7.5 – Had the crowd on their feet with one marauding forward run. He was strong and athletic in defence and, at 21, looks to be a real find. MOM.

Massadio Haidara 6.5 – Errant in possession once or twice – much to the frustration of his manager – but enjoyed the physical battle against a pacey Arsenal attack and did okay.

Jack Colback 7 – Went about his business in the middle of the park with minimal fuss, as ever, and was part of Newcastle’s admirable resistance.

Chancel Mbemba was strong and athletic in defence and, at 21, looks to be a real find for Newcastle 

Vurnon Anita 6.5 – Set the tone inside the opening five minutes, defying his size to crunch through a couple of challenges. He was smart in possession and is enjoying his best spell yet on Tyneside.

Moussa Sissoko 6.5 – His pace and power was invaluable after United went down to 10 men and, while his end product is still often lacking, his work-rate is never in question.

Georginio Wijnaldum 7 – Quieter than recent weeks but still looks a class act when on the ball and was disciplined with his defensive duties.

Magpies forward Georginio Wijnaldum (left), who cut a lonely figure in attack, competes for the ball

Newcastle winger Florian Thauvin (right), a £13million summer signing, is chased down by Nacho Monreal

Florian Thauvin 6 – A bit of a thankless task filling in up front after Mitrovic was sent off, but he showed sparks of promise before eventually tiring.

Aleksandar Mitrovic 4 – Sent off on 16 minutes for stamp on Coquelin. Red was perhaps harsh as challenge was more clumsy than overtly aggressive, but he gave the referee a decision to make and that naivety has cost him.

Subs – Ayoze Perez 6 (On 72 for Anita), Papiss Cisse 6 (On 78 for Sissoko), Siem De Jong (On 87 for Thauvin)  

Newcastle United new boy Aleksander Mitrovic (centre) received his marching orders after just 16 minutes  

Arsenal (4-2-3-1)

Petr Cech 6 – Didn’t have a save to make and enjoyed an easy afternoon.

Hector Bellerin 6.5 – Should have been awarded a penalty when tripped by Thauvin early on and enjoyed getting forward once United were reduced in number.

Laurent Koscielny 7 – His return made a big difference and, while they weren’t really tested by the depleted hosts, his presence was a calming influence.

With 10 men, Newcastle defended well, but were rarely able to trouble Petr Cech at the other end 

Gabriel 6 – Will be relieved to have enjoyed a quieter afternoon than he did against Liverpool on Monday night. Rarely troubled.

Nacho Monreal 6.5 – Was tested by the forceful Sissoko but got to grips with that task as the game went on and Newcastle forward threat faded.

Francis Coquelin 7 – He grew in influence as the game went on and was an anchoring presence as his side poured forward in search of their winner.

Midfield duo Jack Colback of Newcastle and Arsenal's Francis Coquelin were both busy in middle of the park

Santi Cazorla 6 – Saw a lot of the ball and was efficient in possession, but failed to pick off Newcastle’s backline.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 7 – He was sloppy with the ball early on but his energy troubled the Magpies and it was from his strike that the winner arrived.

Aaron Ramsey 6 – Still looks to be struggling to rediscover that scoring form of two seasons ago and was at times slow and predictable.

Arsenal star Aaron Ramsey holds onto the ball despite the presence of Newcastle's Moussa Sissoko

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's dangerous ball deflected off Fabricio Coloccini to give Arsenal vital three points

Alexis Sanchez 6.5 – Probed and was a threat but ultimately failed to harm the opposition.

Theo Walcott 5.5 – Restored to his favoured centre-forward role, he looked to be set for a fruitful afternoon when escaping in behind on a couple of occasions early on. He eventually disappeared, however.

Subs – Olivier Giroud 6 (On 69 for Walcott), Mikel Arteta (On 82 for Oxlade-Chamberlain)  

Arsenal forward Theo Walcott was handed a start ahead of Olivier Giroud but missed glorious chance to score