Premier League - Arsenal vs Newcastle United - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - December 16, 2017 Arsenal's Mesut Ozil celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Eddie Keogh
(Reuters) - - A blistering first-half volley by Mesut Ozil gave Arsenal a 1-0 home win over Newcastle United on Saturday and lifted them into the Premier League's top four while it also piled more misery on the struggling Magpies.
The result lifted Arsenal to fourth place on 33 points from 18 games, one ahead of surprise package Burnley and five behind third-placed Chelsea, with Newcastle, on 15 points, plunging into a relegation scrap.
Germany midfielder Ozil unleashed an unstoppable shot past visiting goalkeeper Rob Elliot in the 23rd minute as Arsenal celebrated their 10th successive top-flight win over Newcastle, who have now taken one point from their last nine league games.
Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs Newcastle United - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - December 16, 2017 Arsenal's Jack Wilshere in action with Newcastle United's Matt Ritchie REUTERS/Eddie Keogh
Alexis Sanchez had a shot blocked by a visiting defender and following an aerial duel, the ball fell kindly to Ozil who showed a touch of class to crash his effort into the top corner.
Arsenal's first league win in four games pleased their manager Arsene Wenger, who singled out Ozil and talented 20-year old left back Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who produced another fine performance for the Gunners.
"Overall we deserved to win - we had plenty of chances," Wenger told the BBC.
Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs Newcastle United - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - December 16, 2017 Arsenal's Granit Xhaka in action with Newcastle United's Ayoze Perez Action Images via Reuters/Tony O'Brien
"Ozil's goal was a gem, that was a great goal. Ainsley Maitland-Niles could have had a goal, he was sharp.
"The strange thing in our last games is that our displays have been good but we didn't win. That's why it's important to win today."
The dominant home side missed several chances in either half while the visitors came close against the run of play in the 56th minute, when Arsenal keeper Petr Cech parried a fierce low shot by Spanish striker Joselu.
Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs Newcastle United - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - December 16, 2017 Arsenal's Mesut Ozil celebrates scoring their first goal with team mates Action Images via Reuters/Tony O'Brien
Maitland-Niles nearly scored in the first half after a darting solo run, with Sanchez and Jack Wilshere also coming close before Joselu had another dangerous shot deflected wide at the other end.
"It was physically difficult today after three games in six days," said Wenger.
"In the last 10 minutes we became edgy but overall, I feel we dominated."
Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs Newcastle United - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - December 16, 2017 Arsenal's Jack Wilshere in action with Newcastle United's Isaac Hayden REUTERS/Eddie Keogh
(Writing by Zoran Milosavljevic,; Editing by Pritha Sarkar)
Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs Newcastle United - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - December 16, 2017 Newcastle United's Joselu in action with Arsenal's Nacho Monreal REUTERS/Eddie Keogh Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs Newcastle United - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - December 16, 2017 Newcastle United's Ayoze Perez in action with Arsenal's Hector Bellerin REUTERS/Eddie KeoghSoccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs Newcastle United - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - December 16, 2017 Arsenal's Granit Xhaka in action with Newcastle United's Isaac Hayden Action Images via Reuters/Tony O'Brien Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs Newcastle United - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - December 16, 2017 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez in action with Newcastle United's Ayoze Perez REUTERS/Eddie Keogh Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs Newcastle United - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - December 16, 2017 Arsenal's Laurent Koscielny in action with Newcastle United's Dwight Gayle Action Images via Reuters/Tony O'Brien Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs Newcastle United - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - December 16, 2017 Newcastle United's Ayoze Perez heads at goal Action Images via Reuters/Tony O'Brien Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs Newcastle United - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - December 16, 2017 Newcastle United's Dwight Gayle reacts Action Images via Reuters/Tony O'Brien Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs Newcastle United - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - December 16, 2017 Arsenal's Granit Xhaka in action with Newcastle United's Joselu and Isaac Hayden Action Images via Reuters/Tony O'Brien Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs Newcastle United - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - December 16, 2017 Arsenal's Mesut Ozil in action with Newcastle United's Mikel Merino REUTERS/Eddie Keogh Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs Newcastle United - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - December 16, 2017 Newcastle United's Joselu in action with Arsenal's Laurent Koscielny Action Images via Reuters/Tony O'Brien
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