The Gunners started the season like wimps and they are ending the season like gang busters. Newcastle came to the Emirate Stadium and opened the scoring. Arsenal, not giving up any territory, tied the score immediately with a Van Persie goal from a Theo Walcott cross.
Arsenal dominated the game but until extra-time, the Newcastle defenders fought gallantly. Walcott picked up a ball from Alex Song and went into his overdrive sprint. The Newcastle defense had a hard time containing him for ninety minutes. Walcott’s cross in the wee hours of the match fell to Vermaelen and Arsenal had eclipsed the men in black.
The victory puts Arsenal one point behind tottering Tottenham who were beaten again over the weekend by Everton. There are two races at the top of the tables. Manchester City and Manchester United are in their own race for EPL champions. Manchester United is showing that the race is not for the swift but for those who can endure it to the end. Sir Alex’s shock troops have overtaken Mancini’s brown shirts.
In the race for third and fourth, Tottenham has stumbled and Arsenal is sitting one point behind them in fourth place. Chelsea and Liverpool are serious contenders. At one stage, it appeared that Newcastle would have been in that mix but their loss to the Gunners puts them out of contention for the runnnings of the top four.
Arsenal has a new energy and the two central defenders, Koscielny and Vermaelen, are more comfortable playing with each other. Sagna has been more than superb since his return. Kieran Gibbs is an attacking threat and has remained unhurt since his return.
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