Robin van Persie's 26th league goal of the season was assisted by Tomas Rosicky.
Arsenal Gunners won another match this afternoon. This time it was against Newcastle United. It’s the North Londoners’ fifth consecutive league win and four of those five matches were played against top ten teams.
The Gunners are on quite a roll these days, even if some of their victories are last-gasp efforts. It makes it all the more satisfying — especially considering Arsenal are not a come-from-behind or late goal-scoring team.
Tonight was one of those uncharacteristic outcomes that surely must have boosted the squad’s confidence post-match.
Arsenal dominated from the start, but Newcastle opened the scoring in the 14th minute due to poor Arsenal defending. Central defender Thomas Vermaelen gave the ball away, giving Hatem Ben Arfa room to streak down the right and cut inside right-back Kieran Gibbs. The French winger curved his left-footed strike towards the near post, beating goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.
The hosts replied within one minute with a left-footed Robin van Persie blast. Midfielder Tomas Rosicky created the play and passed to Theo Walcott who centered for the unstoppable striker. Newcastle’s Mike Williamson went the wrong way as van Persie rocketed the ball past goalkeeper Tim Krul. Robin van Persie has now scored 26 league goals for the season, continuing his most-goals dominance in the premiership.
Other Arsenal chances were missed in both halves, but Newcastle were outplayed the full 90 minutes. The Magpies struggled to keep up with the quick pace of a well-focused Gunner squad and it showed.
‘Keeper Tim Krul took his time between goal kicks giving the impression that Newcastle were content to end the game in a tie, but Arsenal were not. The stalling led to he and Robin van Persie getting into a brief altercation, especially after Vermaelen’s goal secured the win.
In the fifth and final minute of stoppage time, Thomas Vermaelen, whose mistake allowed the only Newcastle goal of the match, redeemed himself. From close range, the Belgium defender tapped the ball in, sending the 60,000 fans into a frenzy.
The victory puts Arsenal within a single point of their fiercest rival, Tottenham, who have been holding on to the third place spot for much of the season. Chelsea are now three points back from the last automatic Champions League position which Arsenal happily occupy. COYG.
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