Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle: Late Vermaelen goal fires Gunners closer to third place

Arsene Wenger’s side went behind to a precise finish from Hatem Ben Arfa in the first half but they were level 55 seconds later thanks to Robin van Persie.

Van Persie, Tomas Rosicky and Gervinho all wasted good chances in the second half, but Vermaelen popped up in the 95th minute to rifle home Theo Walcott’s cross from close range.

“It was a game of absolute commitment on both sides, you have to give credit to Newcastle as well,” Wenger said afterwards. “It needed something special to beat them tonight. And what beat them tonight was our relentless effort just to win the game, and we just did not stop, and in the end we won it.”

Asked if he felt that the win might not come, the Frenchman replied: “Never. I said to my assistant in the final minute: ‘One more attack and we will score’, so much was my belief.”

The home crowd were stunned in to silence in the 15th minute when Vermaelen erroneously passed to Cheick Tiote and the ball found its way to the right flank, where Ben Arfa cut inside and fired a precise finish past Wojciech Szczesny at his near post.

But the Emirates faithful were on their feet barely a minute later as Arsenal levelled from the restart. Walcott galloped down the right after being freed by Tomas Rosicky and he crossed for Van Persie, who shrugged off the challenge of Mike Williamson before slotting home from eight yards. Chances came and went for Arsenal in the second half and Wenger sat with his head in his hands after Walcott saw a penalty claim denied, but just as the game appeared to be over, Vermaelen’s late, late winner sent the home fans wild.