Mesut Ozil stunner gives Arsenal win over Newcastle
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ByEurosport
Updated 16/12/2017 at 17:21 GMT
Premier League, Emirates Stadium - Arsenal 1 (Ozil 23') Newcastle United 0
Arsenal's German midfielder Mesut Ozil celebrates after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium
Image credit: Getty Images
Mesut Ozil scored a brilliant volley as Arsenal secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Newcastle United to return to the top-four.
The German international showed wonderful technique to break the deadlock as he smashed a spectacular first-time volley into the roof of the net on 23 minutes.
Arsene Wenger will have been disappointed with his side's lack of invention thereafter but they were at least able to preserve their slender lead.
Jack Wilshere spurned a golden chance to wrap the game up after the interval as Arsenal failed to convert their dominance into clear-cut opportunities while Newcastle threatened to steal a point as Ayoze Perez and Jacob Murphy went close.
Arsenal's first win in four mean they leapfrog Burnley, Liverpool and Tottenham into fourth while 17th-placed Newcastle remain precariously close to the drop-zone.
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Arsenal's German midfielder Mesut Ozil (2nd L) shoots to score the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium
Image credit: Getty Images
TALKING POINT
Goal-shy Gunners: A run of three consecutive games without a win had dragged Arsenal out of the top four and they badly needed a win to give their supporters some Christmas cheer. They were never going to lose to newly-promoted Newcastle, but their lack of killer instinct in attack was once again highlighted. The Gunners have scored only 31 goals in their 18 games this season, compared to Manchester City’s 52 ahead of their game with Tottenham.
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Arsenal - Newcastle
Image credit: Getty Images
MAN OF THE MATCH
Mesut Ozil (Arsenal): The playmaker, who has been constantly linked with Manchester United ahead of the January transfer window, won the game with one moment of outstanding quality. It has been stressed many times, but Wenger needs to do everything in his power to ensure the German stays at the Emirates.
PLAYER RATINGS
Arsenal: Cech 7, Bellerin 7, Koscielny 7, Monreal 6, Maitland-Niles 7, Xhaka 6, Wilshere 6, Ozil 8, Iwobi 8, Sanchez 7, Lacazette 6. Subs: Giroud 6,Welbeck 5, Coquelin N/A.
Newcastle: Elliot 7, Yedlin 6, Lascelles 6, Lejeune 7, Manquillo 6, Murphy 7, Hayden 6, Merino 7, Atsu 6, Perez 6, Joselu 7. Subs: Gayle 5, Diame N/A, Ritchie 5.
KEY MOMENTS
23’ - GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle (Ozil). A stunner by Ozil gives the Gunners the lead after 23 minutes! Sanchez's shot is blocked but Newcastle fail to clear. Ozil back-peddles and catches the ball sweetly with a left-footed half-volley from the edge of the box which rifles into the roof of the net.
56' - SAVE! Murphy is allowed to cut inside from the left flank. He goes past one, two Arsenal defenders before curling a low effort at goal! Cech has to be at full-stretch to push the ball away from danger.
58’ - MISS! Down at the other end and Lacazette is released through on goal by Iwobi! The Frenchman only has Elliot to beat but tries a spectacular lob and gets it horribly wrong. There is a time and a place for show-boating....
74’ - CHANCE! Giroud climbs highest to reach Sanchez's cross and nods the ball back for Wilshere. However, he shoots straight at Elliot with the goal at his mercy.
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Arsenal - Newcastle
Image credit: Getty Images
KEY STATS
- Mesut Ozil has been directly involved in six goals in his last five Premier League games at the Emirates (two goals, four assists).
- Arsenal have won 10 successive Premier League games against Newcastle, scoring 23 goals and conceding just six.
- Newcastle have lost their last six away matches at Arsenal, with their most recent victory being 1-0 in November 2010.
- The Gunners are unbeaten in 34 matches against promoted teams, winning 29 of them, since losing at QPR in March 2012.
- Arsene Wenger's side have kept nine clean sheets in 2017-18, second only to Manchester United's 10.
- Newcastle have picked up just one point in their last nine Premier League matches, conceding 19 goals during that period.
- Rafa Benitez's side have been beaten in 11 of their 18 league games.
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