Olivier Giroud ensured Arsenal will
finish 2013 on top of the Barclays Premier League as his second-half
goal clinched a 1-0 win against Newcastle United.
Arsene Wenger's side had surrendered first place after Manchester City's win over Crystal Palace, but just 24 hours later the Gunners reclaimed pole position with a hard-fought victory at St James' Park.
Giroud's first goal since November 23 was enough to give Arsenal their second successive win and move them one point ahead of second placed City heading into the new year.
Arsenal, who were without German playmaker Mesut Ozil, took the lead when France forward Giroud bagged his 11th goal of the season with a glancing header from Theo Walcott's free-kick in the 65th minute.
"There is a big satisfaction because we surprised many people," Wenger said.
"We played two away games and got six points against West Ham and Newcastle and as you can see the team is ready for a fight.
"Ozil has a shoulder problem. I don't think he will be available for Cardiff on Wednesday, maybe after that, we will see."
With the January transfer window due to open, there has been speculation Wenger will try to bring in reinforcements to keep Arsenal's title challenge on track.
Wenger, though, has played down the prospect of making a renewed offer for Yohan Cabaye after the Magpies midfielder was an Arsenal target during the summer window.
"We don't look for midfielders because today, we had no Ozil, no Ramsey, who stayed at home, and we had still three good midfielders and had still [Mikel] Arteta on the bench, so there is no real need in there," he said.
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew felt Newcastle did not get the breaks. The goal came from a set-piece that was awarded after Cheick Tiote had fouled Santi Cazorla, however, Pardew believes referee Lee Probert should have given his side a free-kick.
Pardew, though, acknowledged the decisions had gone in Newcastle's favour during Boxing Day's 5-1 victory over Stoke City and he was left frustrated by the manner of the goal his team conceded.
"There was definitely a foul before then on (Vurnon) Anita, without a shadow of a doubt; there was a foul on (Moussa) Sissoko that he (referee Lee Probert) didn't give.
"In terms of the breaks of the decisions, I don't want to say the referee had a poor game, but sometimes he sees those calls and they go your way, sometimes they don't.
"Against Stoke, we had all the calls go our way and today, perhaps we were on the other side of it.
"It's just frustrating, a little bit, that we have not got something on the scoreboard in terms of a point, no more than that.
"One set-play where we didn't defend well has cost us and we have been good at them all year."
Source: news.com.au
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