EPL: Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle United
Mesut Ozil grabbed the decisive goal
Mesut Ozil grabbed the decisive goal as Arsenal enhanced their top-four push by beating struggling Newcastle United 1-0.
The Gunners should have won more comfortably as they wasted a host of presentable openings against Rafa Benitez’s side who have taken just one point from their last nine Premier League games.
Arsenal created the first opening in the second minute, but Rob Elliot saved Alex Iwobi’s low shot.
Newcastle responded well and the unmarked Jamaal Lascelles’ header had to be turned around the post by Petr Cech.
Hector Bellerin then saw a shot blocked after Alexis Sanchez had created the opening before the Chilean scooped a shot over the bar as the Gunners began to turn the screw.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles lashed a shot into the side-netting as Newcastle were kept on the back foot before Arsene Wenger’s team deservedly moved ahead in the 24th minute when Ozil hooked a brilliant shot past Elliot after Sanchez’s shot had been blocked by Lascelles.
Arsenal almost scored again before the interval, but Granit Xhaka’s drive flew narrowly wide before Elliot saved Ozil’s effort.
The Gunners remained in control of the game after the break, with Iwobi being denied by Elliot, before a rare Newcastle attack on the hour mark finished with the under-worked Cech keeping Jacob Murphy’s shot out.
Alexandre Lacazette’s chip then drifted over the bar as Arsenal struggled to score the goals their domination deserved.
Jack Wilshere had a shot pushed away by Elliot as the Gunners attempted to finish their opponents off, but Newcastle almost grabbed an undeserved equaliser in the closing stages when Joselu’s deflected shot dribbled just wide of Cech’s goal.
Arsenal created the first opening in the second minute, but Rob Elliot saved Alex Iwobi’s low shot.
Newcastle responded well and the unmarked Jamaal Lascelles’ header had to be turned around the post by Petr Cech.
Hector Bellerin then saw a shot blocked after Alexis Sanchez had created the opening before the Chilean scooped a shot over the bar as the Gunners began to turn the screw.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles lashed a shot into the side-netting as Newcastle were kept on the back foot before Arsene Wenger’s team deservedly moved ahead in the 24th minute when Ozil hooked a brilliant shot past Elliot after Sanchez’s shot had been blocked by Lascelles.
Arsenal almost scored again before the interval, but Granit Xhaka’s drive flew narrowly wide before Elliot saved Ozil’s effort.
The Gunners remained in control of the game after the break, with Iwobi being denied by Elliot, before a rare Newcastle attack on the hour mark finished with the under-worked Cech keeping Jacob Murphy’s shot out.
Alexandre Lacazette’s chip then drifted over the bar as Arsenal struggled to score the goals their domination deserved.
Jack Wilshere had a shot pushed away by Elliot as the Gunners attempted to finish their opponents off, but Newcastle almost grabbed an undeserved equaliser in the closing stages when Joselu’s deflected shot dribbled just wide of Cech’s goal.