Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain hails Arsenal focus

Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has said that his team found it hard to break down Newcastle United in their Premier League match this afternoon.

The Gunners claimed a 1-0 victory at St James' Park thanks to an own goal from Fabricio Coloccini, but the Magpies played most of the game with 10 men following Aleksandar Mitrovic's early dismissal.

"It's not an easy place to come to," Oxlade-Chamberlain told the club's official website. "Newcastle are a very good side, especially at home with the fans, so it's a tough place to come to.

"Sometimes it's almost harder to play against 10 men, because you have to keep the same focus as when it's 11 against 11 and try to make sure you play the same way. Sometimes that can be hard and that's what we found today."

Arsenal's win has lifted them up to fifth in the Premier League table.