Three things we learnt from today’s win over Newcastle

Arsenal held off the plucky ten men of Newcastle to claim a much needed three points at St James’ Park today. Fabricio Coloccini’s own goal proved to be the difference after Alexsandar Mitrovic’s 16th minute red car condemned the host to ten men. It was on odd match by many accounts, with Newcastle finishing with one red card and a whopping six yellows. Arsenal created 20 chances against the ten men, 13 of them on target, and had a clear penalty shout waved away by referee Andre Marriner.

By those accounts, you would be forgiven for assuming the match was a fast paced and frenetic affair. It was anything but, as the host were happy to sit back and attempt to deprive Arsenal of space and time on the ball. Our lads kept a cool head though and kept plugging away. It wasn’t our usual fluid and silky attacking play, but it matters little so long as the three points are ours. We learned a bit about out resilience and belief of the squad today, and given that Chelsea and Liverpool were both beaten, the win was just what the doctor ordered for Arsenal to keep up pace at the top.

 The Ox just keeps on ticking

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain won’t be officially credited with the goal as it struck Collocini on the way in, but he justified his inclusion in the XI for me. He was Arsenal’s danger man today, as is often the case with his pace and dynamism, and I thought he was one of the bright spots for Wenger’s side. He adds so much to the side when he is running at the back line, and once more staked his claim for more game time. He gives the side much needed width and creativity, and should be one of the first names on the team sheet for me. It wasn’t his or Arsenal’s best showing by a long shot, but he showed how effective he can be.

 Gabriel for President

Albeit against ten men for the most part, it was another sound and assured performance from Gabriel. He has a lot of Koscielny’s attributes, and the two are similar in their reading of the game and tactical awareness. It showed today, as the duo comfortably dealt with the pace and power of Sissoko and Wijnaldum and co. I really like this partnership, for their pace and aggression as well as their reading of the play, and Gabriel is showing he can fill the massive void left by Per Mertesacker.

 Reinforcements needed

Arsenal were rather wasteful in front of goal today to be fair, and the boss spoke afterward about the need for a new striker. Wenger said he is optimistic of adding more firepower to the side, and said Arsenal’s finishing “maybe hasn’t been absolutely clinical.” It was Theo Walcott who was preferred to Olivier Giroud in centre forward today, and while both are top class is their own right, Arsenal could do with another option. Walcott’s movement was brilliant as usual, but he struggled to add the finishing touch today. The rebound from Alexis Sanchez’s shot in particular looked a clear chance, and although we still trust Theo to put those away in the future, it goes to show another goal scorer in the side surely wouldn’t hurt.