Olivier Giroud continued to answer his critics as his brace helped Arsenal bounce back from their Champions League exit with a 2-1 victory at Arsenal.
The French striker missed a string of chances in the Gunners' first leg defeat to Monaco last month, with some suggesting he isn't good enough. Giroud has scored in all but one match since that much-criticised display and has nine goals in as many games, proving he does have what it takes to compete at the highest level.
I would still like to see maybe one more striker added to the squad but Giroud is more than capable of causing havoc to any opponent when he is in top form. Some days he looks like he can't hit a barn door, while other times he can be sensational and when it is the latter he is a joy to watch. Giroud scored in midweek as Arsenal won their second leg tie in Monaco, only to go out on away goals, and the striker was at it again in the North East.
We will certainly need him to continue this rich vein of form if we are to stay in the top three and his two goals at St James' Park kept us just one point behind second-placed Manchester City.
Moussa Sissoko did pull a goal back for the hosts to ensure a nervy second half but Arsene Wenger's men held on for a vital three points, especially with games against Liverpool and Chelsea looming next month, not to mention the FA Cup semi-final against Reading.
There was a hint of luck about Giroud's first goal but the visiting fans wouldn't have minded as it gave their side the lead after 24 minutes. Santi Cazorla whipped in a free-kick, which Danny Welbeck got his head to before Giroud stuck out a knee to divert the ball beyond Tim Krul in the Newcastle goal.
Arsenal continued to pile forward and almost immediately added a second but Welbeck's volley drifted just wide of a post. The Gunners didn't have to wait too long to add to their lead though as Giroud headed home his 17th goal of the season from Cazorla's corner after 28 minutes.
Newcastle pulled a goal back within three minutes of the restart following fine build up play from Ryan Taylor and Remy Cabella. The duo combined well before the latter's cut-back was fired in first time by Sissoko.
The goal appeared to give the Magpies renewed hope and they very nearly levelled the scores soon after when Ayoze Perez's long-range effort sailed inches wide.
John Carver's men had turned things up a gear and were now creating a lot more chances in a bid to try and get something from the game. Yoan Gouffran wasted a glorious opportunity inside the box as he hit his effort straight at David Ospina. Sections of the home crowd wanted a penalty for an alleged handball by Calum Chambers but nothing was given.
Ospina was soon called into action again as he showed great reflexes to deny Sissoko a second goal. Taylor's corner was headed goalwards by Mike Williamson before Sissoko got a flick onto it, only to be denied by a point-blank save from Arsenal's Colombian shot-stopper.
Newcastle continued to push forward and Daryl Janmaat's long-range strike went just wide before Cabella went on a run through the defence and saw his effort saved by Ospina.
Arsenal were living dangerously but almost restored their two-goal advantage when Welbeck showed great pace to run into the box. The England international didn't appear to have too many options available so went for goal and his effort was kept out by Krul.
Krul's opposite number Ospina ensured Arsenal would go home with maximum points with a vital save four minutes from time. Perez cut inside and shot towards goal but Ospina was alert to the danger and denied the Spaniard with his legs.
It was a vital win for the resilient Gunners. Some maybe expected Arsenal to crumble following their Champions League exit and see their season fizzle out. But Wenger's men had other ideas and returned to league action with a win.
Arsenal will have to put in a far better performance when they host Liverpool and Chelsea in the coming weeks but after six consecutive league wins there are definitely some reasons to be positive for the London club.
Obviously I would much prefer to still be in the Champions League and closer to leaders Chelsea in the race for the title. But considering how low things were looking earlier in the season, when it actually looked like getting a top-four place may elude us, the situation has turned around.
We may be out of Europe but we are in the last four of the FA Cup as we look to defend our title and if we can get positive results in April we may yet move up the league.
Home advantage may prove key against Liverpool and Chelsea as we have a superb league record at the Emirates this season. But we must make sure we get things tactically spot on and put in huge performances and prove we can beat the big sides. We have already taken four points out of six from champions Manchester City, but we need to prove it wasn't a fluke, starting against Liverpool. Let's show them what we can do!
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
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