Newcastle hit back to beat Arsenal

Soccer Football - Premier League - Newcastle United vs Arsenal - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - April 15, 2018 Newcastle United's DeAndre Yedlin and Jamaal Lascelles celebrate after the match REUTERS/Scott Heppell

(Reuters) - Newcastle United virtually guaranteed their Premier League safety as they came from a goal down to beat Arsenal 2-1 at a spring-like St James' Park on Sunday.

Alexandre Lacazette's stretching volley gave Arsenal the lead in the 14th minute but Ayoze Perez clipped in Newcastle's equaliser on the half hour mark.

Newcastle were the better side after the break and took the lead in the 68th minute when Matt Ritchie fired home after a neat flick from Perez.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Newcastle United vs Arsenal - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - April 15, 2018 Arsenal's Danny Welbeck shoots at goal REUTERS/Scott Heppell

Arsenal pressed hard for an equaliser but Newcastle defended stoutly to claim a fourth successive victory and condemn Arsene Wenger's side to a fifth consecutive away league defeat.

Newcastle have 41 points in 10th place with sixth-placed Arsenal on 54 -- 13 points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur. With their top-four hopes shattered, Arsenal's only route into next season's Champions League is by winning the Europa League in which they face Atletico Madrid in the semis.

While Arsenal contemplate their lowest league finish since 1995, Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez can reflect on a solid showing on their return to the Premier League.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Newcastle United vs Arsenal - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - April 15, 2018 Arsenal's Calum Chambers in action Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

"I think we are safe with 41 points," Benitez said. "It's a massive achievement for the players, the city and the fans. I want to congratulate everyone.

"Today we didn't play amazing football because we played an amazing team but you have to manage how you play and compete for the win. We can enjoy the win now but then we have to be ready for the next game."

Arsenal have not picked up a single point away from home in 2018 -- the only club in England's top five leagues not to do so -- but looked like ending that dire sequence when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang clipped the ball to the far post where Lacazette thumped home a sweet volley.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Newcastle United vs Arsenal - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - April 15, 2018 Newcastle United's Matt Ritchie in action with Arsenal's Rob Holding REUTERS/Scott Heppell

Their old failings returned though and after Perez equalised with a rare Newcastle attack in the first half Ritchie punished some slipshod defending to condemn Arsenal to defeat.

"Of course it's a concern. Traditionally we are strong away from home," Wenger told a news conference when asked about his side's inability to perform away from home.

"It has a subconscious weight in our mind."

Soccer Football - Premier League - Newcastle United vs Arsenal - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - April 15, 2018 Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette scores their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

Wenger said Thursday's 2-2 draw away to CSKA Moscow in the Europa League had taken its toll on his players.

"Second half I feel some players paid a bit physically from having the game on Thursday night," he said.

"We played with good spirit but a bad result is the outcome. It's very hard to swallow."

Soccer Football - Premier League - Newcastle United vs Arsenal - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - April 15, 2018 Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette celebrates scoring their first goal with team mates Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Toby Davis)

Soccer Football - Premier League - Newcastle United vs Arsenal - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - April 15, 2018 Newcastle United's Florian Lejeune in action with Arsenal's Calum Chambers REUTERS/Scott Heppell

Soccer Football - Premier League - Newcastle United vs Arsenal - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - April 15, 2018 Newcastle United's Ayoze Perez scores their first goal REUTERS/Scott Heppell

Soccer Football - Premier League - Newcastle United vs Arsenal - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - April 15, 2018 Newcastle United's Ayoze Perez celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Scott Heppell

Soccer Football - Premier League - Newcastle United vs Arsenal - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - April 15, 2018 Arsenal's Joseph Willock in action with Newcastle United's Matt Ritchie Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

Soccer Football - Premier League - Newcastle United vs Arsenal - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - April 15, 2018 Arsenal's Nacho Monreal in action with Newcastle United's DeAndre Yedlin REUTERS/Scott Heppell

Soccer Football - Premier League - Newcastle United vs Arsenal - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - April 15, 2018 Newcastle United's Matt Ritchie scores their second goal REUTERS/Scott Heppell

Soccer Football - Premier League - Newcastle United vs Arsenal - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - April 15, 2018 Newcastle United's Mohamed Diame and team mates celebrate after Matt Ritchie (L) scored their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

Soccer Football - Premier League - Newcastle United vs Arsenal - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - April 15, 2018 Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez celebrates after the match REUTERS/Scott Heppell