1-0 to the Arsenal

1-0 to the Arsenal and back to winning ways certainly feels good, but we still need to become more clinical if we are to make up ground on the teams around us.

Yet again we created plenty of chances, but didn't really get enough of them on target and it took a sweetly struck volley by in-form Mesut Ozil to settle the contest. We got all three points and that's what matters, but we really need to kill off games earlier. With a tough clash with Liverpool looming the performance needs to go up another few levels.

We had over 70% possession and were in control for long spells, but 1-0 is always a dangerous scoreline and there was a rather nervy feeling in the closing stages of the match. We need to make our dominance count more!

Arsenal started brightly with Alexandre Lacazette's long-range strike forcing a save out of Rob Elliot in the Newcastle goal. Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech also had to be alert in the early stages as he parried Jamaal Lascelles' headed effort.

Hector Bellerin saw his shot deflected behind before Alexis Sanchez sent a first-time effort over the crossbar. The chances continued to come and go for Arsenal as Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who looked very lively at full-back, ran through the defence before his powerful strike sailed just wide and skimmed the side netting.

But the Gunners were not to be denied after 24 minutes as Ozil scored the game's only goal, and what a goal it was! Sanchez saw his initial effort blocked and he jumped with Newcastle's Florian Lejeune for the ball before the clearance dropped for Ozil, who showed great vision to thump a volley beyond Elliot.

Ozil has really improved of late which is great to see, but the overall team performance is still lacking that extra killer instinct in the final third. Bellerin and Sanchez both wasted further chances in the first half, while Elliot spread himself well to block Ozil's shot inside the box.

Arsenal continued to pile on the pressure in the second half with Elliot parrying a shot from Alex Iwobi, before reacting quickly to palm the loose ball clear and prevent the Nigeria international from getting to the rebound.

Maitland-Niles and Lacazette both missed the chances that came their way and on another day we could have been made to pay, but Newcastle were not able to take advantage at the other end. Matt Ritchie's shot from outside of the box flew over the crossbar before Jacob Murphy cut inside and forced a decent save from Cech.

Arsenal could have done with the cushion of a second goal, but weren't able to find it. Lacazette latched onto Iwobi's through pass before chipping a shot over Elliot and the crossbar. Iwobi sent an overhead kick off target soon after before seeing his next effort comfortably saved by Elliot.

The Gunners' best chance of a second goal fell to Jack Wilshere - the midfielder latched onto Olivier Giroud's headed assist before his first-time shot was excellently kept out by Elliot.

Arsenal were looking fairly comfortably, but with only a narrow one-goal lead the inevitable nervy finish followed. Joselu's strike from outside of the box deflected narrowly wide and behind for a corner.

Ayoze Perez wasted two late chances for the visitors as Arsenal held on for the victory and all three points

OPPOSITION VIEW
Newcastle fan David Charlesworth was left feeling disappointed by the result that saw his side drop into the relegation zone.

"Much like our recent trips to Manchester United and Chelsea, it felt like we needed to turn up, take our lumps and head back to the north-east," said Charlesworth. "The fact the teams were only separated by a goal is a small consolation as we drop into the bottom three.

"It's difficult to see where our next goal is coming from, let alone the next point. We are in complete freefall and the frustrating thing is this was all so predictable after failing to invest sufficiently in the summer.

"Not to get preachy but I remember the days when our fans were complaining about finishing outside the top four...we sacked Sir Bobby Robson and it can't be denied there have been more bad days than good since then. Moral of the story: be careful what you wish for!"

Fellow Magpies fan Alex Earle also spoke of his frustration, but believes the club may be able to turn a corner if manager Rafa Benitez is given the right money to spend.

"It was a disappointing result," added Earle. "To say Arsenal weren't at their best and we have only got one point in a possible 27 it can only hurt more!

"Chances need to be taken in a side lacking confidence. Give Rafa some money and we may be okay."

MY FINAL THOUGHTS
We have been praised in the past for our free-flowing attacking football and great goals, but goals is something I believe we are not seeing enough of at the moment.

When you look at our ratio of shot count to shots on target or scored in recent games it isn't all that great. We are definitely creating enough chances, but we need to do better at converting them. Against Newcastle it didn't come back to bite us and we got all three points, but that won't happen every time as we have already seen by the recent draws against Southampton and West Ham.

We have a huge home game against Liverpool looming in which Wenger and the players really owe us one after our capitulation at Anfield earlier in the season. In previous seasons I'd probably have taken a draw against Liverpool, but with some of the points we have dropped in recent months and how bad we played against them last time, nothing other than a win will do. We need to prove we can match them.

But before we can even begin to start thinking about that we must focus our attentions on the Carabao Cup quarter-final clash against West Ham, where we need to make home advantage and chances count!

COME ON YOU GUNNERS