Battling Newcastle played a man short for almost an hour after Jermaine Jenas was shown a straight red card for a tackle on Gilberto.
They had congested the midfield until Jenas' dismissal. Then the game became a procession towards their goal.
Arsenal were without the suspended Jose Antonio Reyes and long-term casualty Sol Campbell, who is expected to have a reserve run-out within the next fortnight.
Teenager Cesc Fabregas stepped into the midfield role filled for nine years by Patrick Vieira. Arsenal see Fabregas as essential to their future. They have offered him a six-year contract.
Newcastle are desperately short of strikers and firepower. Craig Bellamy has gone to Blackburn. Patrick Kluivert has returned to Spain. Shola Ameobi was suspended and Michael Chopra injured. Alan Shearer became more and more isolated as the game wore on.
Manager Graeme Souness has reinforced his midfield with the signings of Scott Parker and Emre.
Steven Taylor made a third-minute block as Dennis Bergkamp's pass came within inches of freeing Ljungberg.
Bergkamp, drifting deep, played some teasing early passes. Jean-Alain Boumosong made three important interceptions.
Given beat down Bergkamp's 15th-minute shot after Newcastle gave the ball away too close to goal.
Shearer had Newcastle's best chance a minute later, running off Philippe Senderos to hit a diagonal shot past Jens Lehmann's far post.
Arsenal could not pick the final pass through Newcastle's congested defence.
The game turned on the 31st-minute sending-off. Jenas brought down Gilberto from behind and referee Steve Bennett showed a red card. Boumsong was booked for arguing.
Arsenal stepped up the pressure on the ten men. Given saved Newcastle, tipping away Kolo Toure's shot on the turn. Lauren's far-post cross gave Henry a chance, but the France striker rarely scores with headers.
Henry was off target again with a long shot from Robert Pires' corner in first-half stoppage time.
Arsenal continued to press, without finding a rhythm and they still lack the option of a cross to a tall striker. Newcastle dropped deeper, offering Shearer less and less support. They only threatened at dead ball moves, but they continued to frustrate the Gunners.
Stephen Carr pulled back Henry, but Given's brave punch, under pressure from Senderos, cleared Bergkamp's free-kick. Ljungberg then lost his footing as the ball ran loose after Gilberto freed Bergkamp.
Given rushed out to block Henry after Lauren's through ball split the Newcastle defence. Taylor came to the rescue after Pires broke to the by-line.
Henry laid on a great chance for Ljungberg, but Given dived to save yet again and Lauren's misplaced centre showed Arsenal's growing anxiety.
Arsene Wenger sent on Aleksandr Hleb and van Persie for Fabregas and Bergkamp and they gave the Gunners fresh energy.
Given held van Persie's 20-yard shot, but the Newcastle keeper could not keep out Henry's spot-kick after sub Charles N'Zogbia brought down Ljungberg.
Van Persie finished the job with the second goal, but Newcastle may feel the game was decided much earlier.