Full-time: Newcastle 1 Arsenal 2

A SPIRITED second half from Newcastle United lifted St James’ Park but Arsenal still left Tyneside with the three points courtesy of Olivier Giroud’s first half double.

Moussa Sissoko provided plenty of hope for the Magpies after the restart when he side-footed Remy Cabella’s cross beyond goalkeeper David Ospina in the 48th minute.

But, despite dominating for the majority of the second half, Newcastle could not find another way through and Arsenal held on to claim a victory to climb back to within a point of second-placed Manchester City.

Newcastle were made to pay for a disappointing first half when their makeshift defence struggled to come to terms with Arsenal’s brilliant forward-line.

Giroud scored two goals inside four minutes to take his personal tally against Newcastle to a stunning eight goals in six matches against them.

His first arrived in the 24th minute when he was on hand to turn in Santi Cazorla’s free-kick which was flicked on by Danny Welbeck before hitting the striker’s knee and finding a way in to Tim Krul’s bottom left corner.

Then Giroud was allowed by Mike Williamson to glance a Cazorla corner inside the far post four minutes later to give Arsenal the daylight required.

After that Arsenal – who were even guilty of time-wasting late on to preserve the win - probed but could not find an extra goal before the break and that led to Newcastle finding another gear after half-time.

Sissoko’s goal certainly gave Newcastle the incentive to push on for an equaliser and there were stirring displays from Ayoze Perez, Remy Cabella – who had a shout for a penalty waved away - and Sissoko.

Defensively Newcastle also sorted themselves out, with makeshift centre-back Daryl Janmaat - covering for the suspended Fabricio Coloccini – keeping things tight after the restart.

And had Ospina’s outstretched left boot not managed to somehow flick Perez’s deflected late shot from outside the box away for a corner, Newcastle would have clinched a deserved point.

NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-2-3-1): Krul; Taylor, Janmaat, Williamson, Colback; Anita (Gutierrez 71), Gouffran; Cabella, Sissoko, Ameobi; (Armstrong 88) Perez. Subs (not used): Elliot (gk), Obertan, Riviere, Satka, Kemen.

ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Ospina; Chambers, Koscielny, Gabriel, Monreal; Coquelin, Ramsey; Sanchez (Rosicky 71), Cazorla (Flamini 71), Welbeck (Bellerin 88); Giroud. Subs: Szczesny (gk), Gibbs, Mertesacker, Walcott.