Olivier Giroud scored the only goal as
Arsenal beat
Newcastle United 1-0 at
St. James' Park.
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Newcastle vs Arsenal
0-1 - Olivier Giroud &
Jack Wilshere Post-Match
Interview [29.12.
2013]
Newcastle vs Arsenal 0-1 - Olivier Giroud & Jack Wilshere Post-Match Interview [29.12.2013]
Olivier Giroud's header earned a scrappy win over Newcastle as Arsenal overtook
Manchester City to regain top spot in the
Premier League.
The Gunners created several chances early on but Newcastle almost went ahead in first-half stoppage time when
Moussa Sissoko's shot was saved and
Mathieu Debuchy headed against the bar.
As the game became disjointed, Giroud nodded in
Theo Walcott's free-kick.
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Walcott had a lob cleared off the line before Arsenal withstood late pressure.
The hosts sent goalkeeper
Tim Krul forward in search of a late equaliser, with
Hatem Ben Arfa firing wide from a great position.
Yet the Gunners will now be top of the league on
New Year's Day for the first time since the 2007-08 season with a
point advantage over Manchester City.
That season, their title challenge faded away, but after a run of three games without a win, Arsenal have now earned consecutive victories after a 3-1 triumph win at
West Ham on
Boxing Day.
After a tough festive period,
Arsene Wenger's team have favourable league games to come against
Cardiff,
Aston Villa,
Fulham and
Southampton, sandwiched around a tantalising
FA Cup tie against north
London rivals,
Tottenham.
Striker Giroud underlined his importance, ending a seven-game run without a goal, although the Gunners were also fortunate when
Wojciech Szczesny's clearance smacked into
Loic Remy's head and trickled wide.
Points aplenty for the Gunners
Arsenal have earned the most points in the Premier League in 2013, chalking up 82
Exactly a year ago, Arsenal crushed Newcastle 7-3 at
Emirates Stadium, but this was a cagier contest, with both sides looking short of their best.
The visitors carved out several promising opportunities in the first half but, when they did have space to shoot, they either missed the target or failed to test Krul.
Jack Wilshere, who returned after a two-game ban, was wasteful. So too were
Tomas Rosicky,
Santi Cazorla and
Per Mertesacker, with Arsenal missing the injured
Mesut Ozil.
After sustaining early pressure, Newcastle grew into an absorbing first half as
Yohan Cabaye, an Arsenal transfer target last summer, dropped deep to collect the ball.
And it was
Alan Pardew's side who came closest to taking the lead before the break when, in injury time, Sissoko drew a fine save from Szczesny, before Debuchy hit the woodwork from the following corner.
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The game became disjointed in the second period but Arsenal took the lead when
Cheick Tiote, returning from suspension, fouled
Cazorla 30 yards out. Walcott chipped the free-kick into the area, where Giroud nodded his 11th goal of the season.
Arsenal almost doubled the lead when Wilshere found Walcott in space but Krul saved his low effort, before Debuchy headed the rebound off the line.
With
Kieran Gibbs being replaced by
Mikel Arteta and
Mathieu Flamini moving to left-back, Newcastle began to put pressure on the visitors with Flamini fortunate to survive a penalty appeal after hauling down Debuchy.
But, despite the late scare for Szczesny and wastefulness from substitute
Ben Arfa, the Gunners hung on.
- published: 29 Dec 2013
- views: 9636