Arsenal have gone two points clear at the top of the Premier League with a less than convincing 1-0 victory over struggling Newcastle United on Saturday. Laurent Koscielny netted the only goal of the game
Koscielny, along with Nacho Monreal and Mathieu Flamini, was one of three Arsenal changes from the 2-0 win over AFC Bournemouth last time out and the France defender’s 72nd-minute effort proved decisive at Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech – who set a new Premier League record of 170 clean sheets in the success over Bournemouth – showed his class once again, superbly denying Georginio Wijnaldum on three occasions prior to Koscielny’s winner.
The breakthrough came following a corner, with Koscielny on hand to prod home from close range from Olivier Giroud’s header.
Defeat means Newcastle – who warmed up with t-shirts adorned with the message ‘Pavel is a Geordie’ following the death of their former keeper Pavel Srnicek earlier this week – see their winless run extended to four matches.