Wabaya wa Arsenal kimyaaa

A last minute Thomas Vermaelen goal gave Arsenal a vital 2-1 Premier League home win over Newcastle on Monday, a result that closes the gap on third-placed Tottenham to just a single point.

Central defender Vermaelen pounced from close range to finally end the resistance of a stubborn Newcastle side who had defended superbly in an absorbing encounter.

Arsenal enjoyed the majority of possession but it was Newcastle who opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Hatem Ben Arfa cut inside from the right and fizzed in a low shot that beat goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny at his near post.

But, within a minute, Arsenal had drawn level and yet again it was Robin van Persie who scored for the Gunners.

The Premier League's top scorer produced great skill to hold off defender Mike Williamson before firing home his 26th league goal of the season and 33rd in all competitions.

Arsenal continued to pose the bigger threat after the break, although Newcastle looked dangerous on the counter-attack.

Tomas Rosicky nearly celebrated signing a new Arsenal contract when firing wide from close range, while substitute Gervinho somehow missed the Newcastle goal from six yards out.

Then Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul pulled off a brilliant save to tip over a powerful Vermaelen header.

But Vermaelen was not to be denied and, with just a minute of injury time remaining, Arsenal broke clear through Theo Walcott, and the England international's cross was met by his Belgian teammate who had made a 50-yard run to get into the penalty area.

Arsenal, who also became the first team in Premier League history to win four games in a row after conceding the opening goal, are now three points ahead of Chelsea in the race for fourth place, with Newcastle a further five points behind in sixth place.

Wakati huohuo

ARSENE WENGER feared Robin van Persie could have been sent off after a furious bust-up with Toon keeper Tim Krul.

The Holland team-mates were involved in a heated clash after Thomas Vermaelen's dramatic 95th-minute winner.

Arsenal boss Wenger said: "I'm happy Robin stayed yellow and not red. I don't know if it is history from Holland with Krul or just today's story. They looked a bit nervous during the game.

"But Robin gave everything again and our effort was relentless. We kept going until the last seconds."

Gunners skipper RVP and Krul took their row into the tunnel after both being booked before the final whistle, as Arsenal closed the gap on third-placed Tottenham to one point.

Wenger, whose side were 10 points off Spurs before they met on February 26, added: "I have never questioned our spirit. It was a game of absolute commitment from both sides.

"We needed something special to beat them and what beat them was our relentless effort to win.
"There was never a point when I thought we wouldn't win such is the belief in this team.

"Theo Walcott was outstanding from the first minute to the last, it's the best I've seen him play. He had everything."

Hatem Ben Arfa fired Newcastle ahead before Van Persie struck from Walcott's cross just 12 seconds after the restart for his 26th league goal of the season.

Vermaelen's winner also came via a Walcott delivery and the England winger said: "We are getting our jobs right. We've got great attacking players but we are getting it right defensively, too.

"Tottenham will be looking over their shoulders now. It's been an up and down season but it's how you finish that counts."

Newcastle remain in sixth spot and boss Alan Pardew said: "We must not let this disappointment get to us and still have a shot at the Europa League."