Arsenal moved a point behind Manchester City after defeating high-flying Newcastle United 2-0 at St James' Park on Sunday evening.
Eddie Howe's troops nearly got off to the perfect start when Jacob Murphy rattled the frame of the goal with a strike from ten yards out, with Aaron Ramsdale well beaten.
A few minutes later, the home supporters were loud once again after the referee pointed to the penalty spot for an apparent handball, but the decision was overturned after a review on the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) monitor.
However, the visitors got the opening goal on 14 minutes when captain Martin Odegaard rifled home a low strike from distance for his 15th league goal of the campaign.
The end-to-end affair continued as Bukayo Saka was sent clear on goal by Granit Xhaka's through-ball, but the England international could only fire straight at goalkeeper Nick Pope.
The Magpies dominated for the rest of half the as they went in search of an equaliser, with Joe Wilock guilty squandering a big one-on-one chance after he was denied by Ramsdale while Pope produced a superb save on the stroke of halftime to deny Odegaard in the box.
The high tempo continued into the second half as both sides hit the woodwork in the opening five minutes, as Alexander Isak's header crashed against the post while Gabriel Martinelli curled one onto the crossbar.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe responded with a change after the hour mark, as Miguel Almiron made his way on to the par for Murphy looking for his first goal since March.
However, the Gunners doubled their lead with 20 minutes left on the clock as Newcastle's Fabian Schar deflected Martinelli's cross into the back of his own net.
That seemingly deflated the wind in Newcastle's sail and although the hosts continue to push for a goal, they were unable to find a way past Ramsdale as the Gunners kept their title hopes alive.
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