Arsenal moved to within two points of the Premier League's top four with a comfortable 4-1 victory over Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium this evening.
Olivier Giroud scored either side of a Santi Cazorla strike to give the Gunners a three-goal cushion on the hour mark, but Ayoze Perez gave Newcastle hope with a glancing header in the 63rd minute.
Arsenal held out, however, and sealed the points with a fourth goal late on, with Cazorla doubling his personal tally with a cheeky penalty.
Here, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at an entertaining clash in London.
Match statistics
ARSENAL
Shots: 17
On target: 4
Possession: 51%
Corners: 9
Fouls: 14
NEWCASTLE
Shots: 10
On target: 4
Possession: 49%
Corners: 6
Fouls: 15
Was the result fair?
Arsenal did deserve to win this match, but the final score is harsh on Newcastle. The Magpies had a lot of good spells throughout and were very much in with a shout of getting something from the game until the hosts got two goals in quick succession in the second half.
The prospect of a comeback wasn't out of the question when Perez pulled a goal back, but, despite holding their own, the visitors struggled to create much from open play. The main difference between the two sides today was ruthlessness in front of goal. Arsenal scored with every one of their four shots on target, while Newcastle failed to make enough of their chances.
It could have been very different had Papiss Cisse scored a sitter to send the sides into the break all square, but Arsenal ultimately showed their quality in front of goal when it mattered. They needed the three points and deserved them today, although it was not always as comfortable as the scoreline may suggest.
Arsenal's performance
Despite such a convincing win over Galatasaray in midweek, Arsenal came into this match under huge pressure to get a result following their display against Stoke City last weekend. They certainly delivered in that respect, showing good character to put in an accomplished performance.
They started the match really well and appeared to be in complete control for the opening half an hour, but they then allowed the Magpies to grow into the game and ended the half on the back foot. The two goals in the opening 15 minutes of the second half changed the game, though, as they put the Gunners back in control during a period when Newcastle looked to be getting some joy.
There were no signs of a collapse when Newcastle pulled a goal back either, which will please Arsene Wenger, who has seen his side throw a three-goal lead away at home already this season. The hosts had to deal with a lengthy list of absentees, forcing Mathieu Debuchy to play in central defence, but they coped with that well and put in a performance that had the home fans chanting Wenger's name at the end of the match. What a difference a week makes.
Newcastle's performance
Newcastle also had a long list of players unavailable for today's match, but they did not quite cope with it as effectively as their hosts. They were barely in the game at all in the opening 30 minutes, with Arsenal dominating and perhaps deserving of a bigger cushion than the one-goal lead they had at that time.
Newcastle grew into the match, however, and had a really good spell in the final 15 minutes of the first half. Somehow they didn't go into the break level as Cisse missed a sitter, but they began the second half brightly too and would have fancied their chances of getting the equaliser before Arsenal's quick double.
They continued to fight, but ultimately could not create enough from open play to cause the hosts any major problems. Whereas Arsenal were clinical in front of goal, Newcastle did not take their chances. There are certainly positives to draw from the game for Alan Pardew, whose side held their own for long periods of the game, but the visitors did not deserve to leave the capital with anything today.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Olivier Giroud: There are question marks over whether Giroud is good enough to be the first-choice striker for a title-chasing side, but he is a real handful when he is at his best. He showed a variety of attributes today, highlighted by two very different, but well-taken goals. His first was a textbook header having attacked the ball really aggressively in the box, while his second showed a deft touch to clip the ball in at the front post.
Biggest gaffe
Cisse has to win this one for his miss in the first half. Wojciech Szczesny would be right to claim credit for what was a very good double save, but he should not have been given the opportunity to stop Cisse's effort from point-blank range. The ball arrived to the striker after Szczesny had denied Yoan Gouffran, but he hit it straight at the keeper from just a couple of yards out.
Referee performance
Lee Mason was a little inconsistent this afternoon, but he got the big decisions right. The penalty was a clear one and, while there was some debate over a disallowed goal for Danny Welbeck, there did appear to be the slightest foul on Daryl Janmaat in the build-up.
What next?
Arsenal: Next up for the Gunners is a tricky away day against Liverpool at Anfield.
Newcastle: The Magpies, meanwhile, will be hoping for more joy when they return to North London for their League Cup quarter-final against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.
Barney Corkhill
