After Arsenal's Champions League exit to Monaco on Tuesday and Manchester City's win against West Bromwich Albion in Saturday's early kick-off, the Gunners needed three points. The opponents? Newcastle United, at St. JamesPark. Although Arsenal got the three points they required, it proved to be a tough game. In the first-half, Arsenal mainly dominated and were rewarded by two goals, from in-form striker Olivier Giroud. In the second half, however, Newcastle came out a different team, and could have easily nicked a point, while Arsenal were evidently feeling the effects of the mid-week Champions League game. It was certainly a game of two halves - it's just that Arsenal scored more in their best half.

Against Newcastle, creative talismen Alexis Sanchez and Santi Cazorla looked tired and lethargic, but there were a few good individual performances from Arsenal. David Ospina kept Arsenal in the game at times, particularly in the frantic last 20 minutes, while Gabriel Paulista made some very important challenges. In defensive midfield, Francis Coquelin was his usual self, determined and up for tackle. It was, however, Coquelin's fellow Frenchman Giroud who is this week's Star Man of the Week, with three goals overall against Monaco and Newcastle. Despite missing three months with a broken foot, the 28-year-old has scored 17 goals this season and he was on fire this week. You could tell that against Monaco, the striker wanted to redeem himself, after missing a number of chances in the first leg, putting in a hard-working, purposeful performance. He then took his goal incredibly well, hitting a right-footed drive into the top of the net from a tight angle. Unfortunately he couldn't lead Arsenal to the 3-0 win they needed. He was the hero, however, on Saturday, when he scored two goals to down Newcastle, both from corners. The first goal came from a header from Danny Welbeck, which Giroud kneed into the goal from close range. The second goal, a minute later, was a lot better, as Giroud accurately headed the ball into the far left-hand corner.

If the striker keeps scoring as often as he is lately, then Arsenal will be a shoe-in for a top three finish.