Arsenal vs Newcastle match report: Laurent Koscielny pounces as Gunners maintain title push

Arsenal 1 Newcastle 0

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

Seconds after the final whistle, Arsenal’s official Twitter account tweeted the news that the club had reached a milestone: 100 1-0 wins in the Premier League. George Graham, who oversaw the first of these in September 1992, would be forgiven a wry smile at the revelation.

Graham’s reign was notable for trophies rather than entertaining football, which is what Arsenal wanted after a period of relative poverty. The Arsène Wenger years began with much silverware, but have more recently been more about style than substance in the League.

A dozen years have passed since the last title triumph, and for most fans at the Emirates games are now definitely about the result rather than the performance. Thus this laboured victory was greeted with a roar of relief. With Bournemouth resisting at Leicester, Arsenal have moved two points clear.

A poacher’s strike from Laurent Koscielny (pictured) settled the match, but prior to his 72nd-minute goal Newcastle had created the better chances and were unfortunate to suffer a defeat that means they remain rooted in the relegation zone.

“It was a difficult game,” said Wenger. “Our legs were a bit heavy, our fluency was not there, the mental aspect and our defensive solidity were tested. Not to drop points when you play like we did today is very important.”

His Newcastle counterpart, Steve McClaren, said: “I’m scratching my head as to how we got nothing from that game. Not many teams will come here and do that to Arsenal without getting something. We were aggressive, kept control, created chances. But it’s about putting the ball in the back of the net. Goalkeepers win you matches, and [Petr] Cech certainly won that game.”

Wenger added: “Cech made two big saves, and on top of that he is calm; today we need that.”

It did not look as if the Czech would become Arsenal’s key player in a vibrant opening period that suggested the home side wore the burden of leadership lightly. Yet in that early flurry Rob Elliot was untroubled, and when a goal did not come Arsenal’s game became stilted.

Instead it was Newcastle who threatened, with Cech making a double save from Georginio Wijnaldum and Jack Colbeck in the 16th minute. Cech smartly denied Wijnaldum again soon after the break as he broke ont o Ayoze Perez’s pass.

Though Olivier Giroud sent a diving header just wide and Aaron Ramsey had a shot saved it began to look as if Arsenal would have to settle for a point. That was the least Newcastle deserved, and a clean sheet would have been poignant reward on a day when the team and fans paid tribute to Pavel Srnicek, their hugely popular former goalkeeper who died this week at the age of 47

It was not to be. A Mesut Özil corner was headed up into the air by Paul Drummett, then Giroud. As it came down the second time Koscielny stole between Elliot and Perez to finish adroitly. Ramsey twice could have doubled Arsenal’s lead in the closing stages as Newcastle pressed forward, but on a day the team discovered how to win ugly the Graham era chant of ‘One-nil to the Arsenal’ was appropriate.

Arsenal: (4-2-3-1): Cech; Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Flamini, Ramsey; Oxlade-Chamberlain (Campbell, 68), Özil, Walcott (Gibbs, 81); Giroud (Chambers. 88).

Newcastle: (4-2-3-1): Elliot; Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Drummett; Tioté (De Jong, 87), Colback (Thauvin, 79); Sissoko, Wijnaldum, Perez; Mitrovic.

Referee: Anthony Taylor.

Man of the match: Cech (Arsenal)

Match rating: 6/10