‘Gunners will gain from Ozil's Germany exile’

Manager Emery praises midfielder for contributing goal in team’s 2-1 victory

NEWCASTLE: Unai Emery is confident that Arsenal can be the major beneficiaries from Mesut Ozil's acrimonious retirement from international football.

The 29-year-old announced in June that he would no longer represent his country following Germany's disappointing World Cup campaign in Russia, where they were knocked out in the group stage.

Ozil claimed he was made a scapegoat for the high-profile failure, and cited "racism and disrespect" over his Turkish roots as a major factor in his decision to bring the curtain down on a career at the highest level which included 92 games, 23 goals and a 2014 World Cup winners' medal.

Ozil looked refreshed at St James' Park after being given time off during the recent international break, playing a prominent role in a deserved success which saw Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka open the scoring for the Gunners.

"Of course it's a new way for Mesut (after his international retirement), and we want him to show his quality in his performance each day in training and in each match," said Arsenal coach Emery.

"We want to see the best of him and today he worked very well, took his goal nicely and he continues to work to help the team," added Emery, given the daunting task of succeeding Arsene Wenger as Arsenal manager following the Frenchman's near 22 years in charge of the London club.

After leading Arsenal to their first back-to-back away wins in the top flight for 16 months, Emery stressed the importance of finding a consistency of results on the road as he looks to lead the Gunners back towards a top-four finish after a two-season absence from the Champions League.

"We need to improve for ourselves and for the challenge," said Emery. "It is challenging away from home, and we need to be competitive. We are happy to win away and we need to continue that, because we need to improve and be more competitive. Today the team showed us important things."

Ciaran Clark pulled a goal back in stoppage time for Newcastle, but it wasn't enough to prevent them going down to a defeat to match those they had already suffered by the same scoreline against Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Manchester City earlier this season.

Chelsea and Liverpool continued to throw down the gauntlet to Premier League champions Manchester City as all three were victorious on their return to action on Saturday.

Liverpool showed their credentials in targeting a first title since 1990, and such was the Reds' dominance in their 2-1 win at Tottenham, the scoreline did not do Jurgen Klopp's men justice.

Chelsea also made it five wins from as many games under Maurizio Sarri thanks to the brilliance of Eden Hazard, who scored a hat-trick in a convincing 4-1 win over Cardiff to edge ahead of Liverpool on goal difference.

City remain just two points back, though, and looked back to their best in tearing apart Fulham 3-0 thanks to goals from Leroy Sane, David Silva and Raheem Sterling.