Newcastle 0-2 Arsenal: Gunners close gap to Manchester City after fine win including Martin Odegaard stunner

Arsenal kept their slim hopes of lifting a first Premier League crown in nearly 20 years alive as they beat Newcastle 2-0 at St James’ Park. Mikel Arteta’s side rode their luck at times, as their hosts twice hit the woodwork, but Martin Odegaard’s early strike set them on their way to an impressive victory.

Ad The Magpies made an electric start, with Jacob Murphy rattling the woodwork after 71 seconds, before the home crowd were left incensed when a penalty, originally awarded for handball against Jakub Kiwior, was overturned after a VAR intervention. TransfersArsenal plan huge contract offer to secure Rice signing — Paper Round13 HOURS AGO Things went from bad to worse four minutes later when Odegaard fired the visitors in front, before the ex-Real Madrid man came close to a second when his effort was tipped around the post after Gabriel Martinelli’s original effort had been saved.

Newcastle struggled to muster too many efforts on goal, although Aaron Ramsdale did save from Murphy before the break, while at the other end Odegaard was denied by Pope again in injury time. The Magpies should have equalised after half-time, only for Alexander Isak to head against the post and Ramsdale to save Fabian Schar’s header.

That early momentum soon disappeared though, and Arsenal doubled their lead with less than 20 minutes left when Schar stabbed into his own net from Gabriel Martinelli’s cross. Premier League table Premier League fixtures / results Premier League top scorers TALKING POINT — Title race still on? After a patchy period, during which they have been accused of ‘bottling’ the title, Arsenal have kept their aspirations of winning the Premier League alive with one of their wins of the season.