Arsenal get winning start

(AP):

Arsenal's club record- signing Nicolas Pepe watched as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored to give his team a 1-0 win at Newcastle in their Premier League opening game yesterday.

Aubameyang, who had been threatening intermittently in a game of few chances, finally broke the deadlock in the 58th minute when he stopped Ainsley Maitland-Niles' cross with his first touch and dinked it past Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka with his next.

Substitute Pepe, who joined from French side Lille for PS72 million on August 1, was given a warm welcome from Arsenal fans when he made his debut in the 71st.

"Physically, he needs to get his best fitness to be ready to play 100 per cent for 90 minutes. I think that today 20 minutes is good for him," Arsenal coach Unai Emery said.

Spain midfielder Dani Ceballos came on in the 64th to make his Arsenal debut.

Newcastle made the better start in Steve Bruce's first Premier League game in charge of his hometown club, albeit without creating a glut of goal chances. Club record-signing Joelinton went close with a header in the 17th minute of his debut. Paraguay forward Miguel Almiron was booked for a dive shortly afterward, before Jonjo Shelvey had two efforts blocked and Joelinton another shot saved.