New-found resilience takes Arsenal back to the top

NEWCASTLE UNITED 0 ARSENAL 1
By Ricky Butler at St. James's Park

LEAGUE titles are won over 38 games. Over the course of the season there will be occasions when you play well and win convincingly while at other times you will need to grind out a result.

In recent years that has been the one quality Arsenal has lacked. All too often they have been found wanting when the going gets tough. But this victory up at St. James's Park on Sunday shows that perhaps they are now ready to take that next step.

It was not always pretty. Far from it. But it is all about results at this time of the year and Arsenal had enough quality at both ends of the pitch to secure another festive three points to regain leadership of the Premier League.

This was not the free-flowing Gunners from earlier in the season. But, just as they had done here in the final game of last season to secure Champions League football, they managed to get a goal and hang on to it; the epitome of a title winning side.

Make no mistake about it, Newcastle are in the top eight on merit. Alan Pardew has build a very good side full of quality players and they started the day with a spring in their step. But these are the sort of games Manchester United always used to win on their way to the title and Arsene Wenger's side was able to do just that.

"We played against a very good side," said the Arsenal boss. "But I felt we controlled the game until we were leading 1-0 and then missed the chance for a second goal. The last 15-20 minutes was more difficult but we defended with great spirit and it is three great points for us."

The first half was typical of many Gunners games this season. They dominated possession but played in front of their opponents and rarely managed to get in behind. Missing the injured Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey, Wenger's men seemed to lack that extra bit of spark in the final third.

Newcastle, on the other hand, was more direct, often stretching Arsenal down the right in particular, and a first half of precious few chances nearly ended with the hosts grabbing the lead. Moussa Sissoko's shot was well saved by Wojciech Szczesny while Mathieu Debuchy's header from the resulting corner came back off the crossbar.

But Arsenal upped the tempo at the start of the second half and it bore fruit for them just past the hour-mark. Cheick Tiote fouled Santi Cazorla 30 yards from goal and Theo Walcott's superb free kick delivery was glanced in by the head of Olivier Giroud; the Frenchman's first goal in eight games and 11th of the season.

Giroud heads the vital Arsenal winner at Newcastle on Sunday

Speaking of his centre forward, Wenger said: "Giroud gives us good balance in the team. He gives us a good structure up front. We are a short team; more technical, more mobility, and he gives us the ability to win the ball in the air."

It should have been all over moments later when Walcott was first denied by Tim Krul before seeing his clever follow-up effort cleared off the line by a combination of Debuchy and the crossbar.

But the heavy festive schedule seemed to take its toll in the closing stages as Wenger's troops were forced to hang on to what they had.

It lead to a thrilling climax as the Toon sensed an equaliser but this Arsenal side are made of sterner stuff these days and they were able to stand firm in the face of the late onslaught to claim a vital three points.

Wenger said: "It gives me huge satisfaction (to go into the New Year on top). We have surprised many people but as you can see this team is ready for a fight. So lets keep fighting and keep developing this team."

Arsenal has now picked up 82 points from 38 games in 2013, a total not bettered by anyone else in the Premier League, and conceded just 34 goals. They have added a steely determination to the obvious flair and suddenly the title looks a real possibility.

Of course nothing is won in December and with just two points now separating the top three, every single victory is going to be crucial going into the New Year. But if they continue to show this sort of resilience, 2014 may just be Arsenal's year.

NEWCASTLE UNITED - Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Tiote, Cabaye, Anita (Ameobi 74), Gouffran (Ben Arfa 62), Sissoko (Haidara 79), Remy.

ARSENAL - Szczesny, Sagna, Mertersacker, Koscienly, Gibbs (Arteta 70), Wilshere, Rosicky, Flamini, Walcott (Jenkinson 80), Cazorla, Giroud (Bendtner 86).

REFEREE - L. Probert

ATTENDANCE: 52,161.