Arsenal 1 Newcastle 0 player ratings: who was the star man for the Gunners in crucial victory?

Defender Koscielny scored the only goal of the game at the Emirates

Laurent Koscielny celebrates his goal with Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud (Getty Images)

Arsenal's Premier League title charge rolled on as they moved two points clear at the top with a scrappy 1-0 victory over Newcastle United on Saturday and Leicester City's push faltered with a goalless home draw against Bournemouth.

Predictions that Leicester's unlikely surge to the summit would be short-lived gained further substance when they failed to break down 10-man Bournemouth and missed a penalty through Riyad Mahrez to extend their winless run to three games.

That gave Arsene Wenger's pace-setters the chance to open a gap and they did not miss it, although they endured a difficult afternoon against Newcastle at the Emirates where defender Laurent Koscielny poached the winner after 72 minutes.

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"It was hard work, but we prepared ourselves mentally. We were not at our best but we had to dig deep and we can do that when needed," Wenger said after his side moved to 42 points from 20 games.

Koscielny volleyed home from a corner to help Arsenal forget their Boxing Day blip, when they slumped 4-0 at Southampton, and show their mettle with a second straight victory and fifth in six games.