ARSENAL head-coach Mikel Arteta has issued a rallying cry to record signing Nicolas Pepe, urging the Ivorian to kick on after scoring and producing two assists as his side trounced Newcastle on Sunday.

“We just need consistency from him”, the Spaniard explained afterwards. “From wide players, the most difficult thing to do is create chances.

“These are things that Nico needs to maintain game by game. The way he applied himself today, defensively as well, was top-drawer. He’s doing things he wasn’t doing in the past and when he does that, the rewards come.”

Arguably, the biggest change affected by Arteta in his nine games in charge in North London is defensive solidity and organisation - this was Arsenal's first consecutive league clean sheet in almost a year. At times, and in stark contrast to the Unai Emery era, it's felt this improvement has been countenanced by attacking deficiency. This result flies in the face of that. 

In truth, the 4-0 scoreline flattered the Gunners - they were outplayed for the first 30 minutes and were lucky not to concede. At the other end, a goalkeeping howler and some laughable pot-luck stretched the scoreline. Even so, you have to go back to the reign of Arsene Wenger to find their last clean sheet win by at least a three-goal margin, a hugely encouraging sign for the club.

It’s hard not to feel that the former Man City coach is now seeing things click into place. This match - the second half at least - played under the loosening grip of Storm Dennis, provided some much-needed remedies to ailments that have plagued the Gunners for too long.

The biggest of those was Pepe but Mesut Ozil is a similar case in point, perceived by many fans as little more than a million-dollar problem. 

Just like Pepe, Ozil’s stats this season (0 goals, one assist) have become a stick with which to beat him. So when he scored in the 90th minute, his first goal since April, Arteta must have felt a weight lifting not only off the German's shoulders but off his own given his commitment to the World Cup winner since taking the helm. The fact his tame shot was helped in by Martin Dubravka’s chocolate wrists will remain a minor footnote so long as Ozil can rekindle the kind of magic he’s undoubtedly capable of.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang broke the deadlock nine minutes after the restart, leaping high to meet Pepe’s floated cross and guiding it into the corner of the net. The pair were grinning ear to ear as the captain immediately ran to embrace his assistant. They didn’t know it then, but they were just getting started

Three minutes later, the £72 million winger had a goal of his own, just his fourth in 15 Premier League appearances. This time Bukayo Saka, later named man-of-the-match for a dazzling performance out of position at left wing-back, turned provider after wriggling free of two defenders with a crafty nutmeg before squaring for Pepe to slot home.

The Gunners’ double-tap had seemingly put the game beyond Newcastle. That looked even more likely when Allan Saint-Maximin saw his effort denied by the upright. After seizing on a defensive mix up, he zeroed in goal and struck a curling shot beyond Bernd Leno but not the post.

Another good omen for Arsenal was Alexandre Lacazette coming off the bench to find the net for the first time in nine games. His goal was a certain fluke - a mis-kick for the ages - and his celebration reflected that - laughing incredulously as every single one of his teammates, all bar goalkeeper Bernd Leno, slapped his back with glee.

Despite omitting the Frenchman from the starting XI in favour of Eddie N’ketiah, Arteta was clearly delighted with how things panned out: "I’m so pleased, not just for the goal but all his teammates and the staff. They showed how much they love him and the reason why is because he works his balls off every day.”

“Laca has been playing all the games with me and he hasn’t scored. I told him today the decision why [he started on the bench] and he accepted it well. I told him you will come on and score a goal and he did."

Next up for Arsenal is a tough Europa League trip to Athens to face Olympiakos before they return to league action next Sunday at home to Everton.