Newcastle 1 - Arsenal 2: Top Gun Olivier Giroud torments Toon
IT was all guns blazing – at both ends – as Arsenal made it a magnificent seven straight wins in matches against Newcastle to ease the pain of their Champions League exit.
Olivier Giroud scored his eighth goal in six games against Newcastle
If Arsene Wenger’s side enjoy facing the Geordies, nobody in the Gunners’ ranks loves this fixture more than striker Olivier Giroud.
The Frenchman took his tally to eight goals in six games against Toon with a double strike in the space of three first-half minutes. Giroud now has nine in his last nine matches.
Manager Arsene Wenger saluted Giroud, saying: “He scores the goals, he fights hard and keeps the ball up front. He had a good game.
“We had an outstanding first half, but in the second half we had to show different qualities to hang on.’’
Indeed Newcastle, who came back from 4-0 down here to Arsenal in February 2011 to draw 4-4, threatened something of a repeat with a spirited second-half display.
Acting captain Moussa Sissoko struck three minutes after the break and the Magpies spurned a string of chances that might have earned them an unlikely victory.
Arsenal were without Mesut Ozil through illness, which meant a return to the starting line-up for Aaron Ramsey. And skipper Per Mertesacker was replaced by Gabriel at centre-back.
Newcastle, robbed of virtually a full team through injury and suspensions, restored the pace and verve of Ayoze Perez and Remy Cabella.
But Arsenal soon began a furious onslaught. They took the lead in the 24th minute, when stand-in captain Santi Cazorla’s free-kick was flicked on by Danny Welbeck and Giroud steered home off his thigh.
A second goal arrived on 28 minutes, when Giroud easily beat Mike Williamson to head into the far corner of the net from Cazorla’s right-wing corner.
Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal: Arsene Wenger says Chelsea are comfortable in title race
Despite their overwhelming superiority, Arsenal couldn’t add to their lead before the break.
And they were beginning to regret that as Newcastle made a storming start to the second half.
Cabella pulled the ball back from the right and Sissoko met it first time to give keeper David Ospina no chance from 12 yards.
Newcastle kept pressing and Yoan Gouffran missed a glorious opportunity to level when he fired straight at Ospina.
Williamson’s deflected header brought a reaction save from Ospina on 64 minutes before centre-back partner Daryl Janmaat hit a stinging drive wide of the keeper’s left post.
And Ospina had to be at his best to deny Perez at the near post four minutes from time.
Third-placed Arsenal are four points behind leaders Chelsea from two matches more and Wenger said: “I think Chelsea have too much security. I feel they have enough of a cushion to feel quite serene.”
Toon boss John Carver said: “I thought everyone gave everything and it showed they’re not on their holidays yet. I think we can still finish in the top 10. I thought Daryl Janmaat was outstanding.”
MAN of the MATCH: OLIVIER GIROUD – The in-form French frontman loves facing Newcastle. He now has eight goals in six games against them.
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