WIZARD OF OZ
Arsenal 1 Newcastle 0: Moment of magic from Mesut Ozil redeems Arsene Wenger’s side after midweek misery
The Gunners have moved up to fourth in the Premier League after securing three points at the Emirates
MESUT OZIL got Arsenal back on track with a wondergoal winner against Newcastle.
The Gunners had slipped to seventh in the table before kick-off having failed to win any of their last three league matches.
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But Ozil hooked a sumptuous volley past Toon stopper Rob Elliot from just inside the box in the 23rd minute.
And that was enough for Arsenal to move back up to fourth and keep their hopes of Champions League qualification alive.
Newcastle, meanwhile, are now in the relegation zone for the first time since the opening week of the campaign having lost eight of their last nine winless matches.
And things don’t get any easier for Rafa Benitez’s boys, as they next face a tricky trip to a resurgent West Ham, before hosting runaway league leaders Manchester City on Boxing Day.
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The Toon just never looked like scoring at the Emirates, where they have now lost in six straight games.
And really, Arsene Wenger’s men should have won by a much bigger margin but they never had to get out of second gear.
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Alexandre Lacazette, who started on the bench for the midweek draw at West Ham, had one early shot which was comfortably saved by Elliot, then Alexis Sanchez blazed over from 15 yards.
But the Gunners went ahead when Florian Lejeune headed a loose ball out to Ozil, who backtracked then struck a sweet left-footed volley which flew into the net for just his third goal of the season.
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Arsenal could have had a second when Sanchez picked out Hector Bellerin but he volleyed over.
Then Granit Xhaka and Sanchez both shot just wide before half-time.
After the break, the Toon carved out their first couple of chances when substitute Matt Ritchie shot over from 20 yards and Jacob Murphy drew a save out of Petr Cech from the edge of the box.
But Alexandre Lacazette really should have scored for Arsenal when he was played through by Alex Iwobi only then choosing to chip Elliot rather than drive past him, and sticking the ball over the bar.
Mesut Ozil scores a great volley for Arsenal against Newcastle
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Lacazette was hooked for Olivier Giroud in the 73rd minute, to boos from a few of the home fans.
Giroud, though, was soon in the action, heading back to Jack Wilshere, whose 12-yard shot was saved by the legs of Elliot as the Gunners failed to add to their early goal.
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