Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle

Thomas Vermaelen hit a 95th-minute winner as Arsenal closed to within a point of third-placed Tottenham.

Hatem Ben Arfa gave the visitors the lead with a stylish low finish - but the lead lasted less than a minute.

Theo Walcott fired a cross into Robin van Persie, who scored his 33rd goal of the season with a clinical finish.

Arsenal came from behind to earn victory for the fourth straight game but tempers flared at the final whistle after Vermaelen's dramatic winner.

Van Persie and Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul were involved in a confrontation after the goal. The Arsenal striker accused his Dutch compatriot of time wasting in the second half and both players were booked as play spilled into a 98th minute.

It was a riproaring finish to a compelling game as Arsenal continued their remarkable resurgence to keep the heat on their local rivals Spurs, who enjoyed a 12-point cushion over the Gunners just six games ago.

Newcastle's last trip to north London a month ago ended in a miserable 5-0 defeat at White Hart Lane but this time the Magpies benefited from a fifth man in midfield - and that was Ben Arfa.

The Frenchman is yet to find the consistency expected of him following his injury problems but he demonstrated in one swift moment why he is so highly rated.

Collecting the ball on the right against the exposed Kieran Gibbs, Ben Arfa cut onto his favoured left foot to drill an angled shot inside the near post - leaving Wojciech Szczesny beaten.

BBC