( CNN ) -- A last minute Thomas Vermaelen goal gave Arsenal a vital 2-1 Premier League home win over Newcastle on Monday , a result that closes the gap on third-placed Tottenham to just a single point . Central defender Vermaelen pounced from close range to finally end the resistance of a stubborn Newcastle side who had defended superbly in an absorbing encounter . Arsenal enjoyed the majority of possession but it was Newcastle who opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Hatem Ben Arfa cut inside from the right and fizzed in a low shot that beat goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny at his near post . But , within a minute , Arsenal had drawn level and yet again it was Robin van Persie who scored for the Gunners . The Premier League 's top scorer produced great skill to hold off defender Mike Williamson before firing home his 26th league goal of the season and 33rd in all competitions . Arsenal continued to pose the bigger threat after the break , although Newcastle looked dangerous on the counter-attack . Tomas Rosicky nearly celebrated signing a new Arsenal contract when firing wide from close range , while substitute Gervinho somehow missed the Newcastle goal from six yards out . Then Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul pulled off a brilliant save to tip over a powerful Vermaelen header . But Vermaelen was not to be denied and , with just a minute of injury time remaining , Arsenal broke clear through Theo Walcott , and the England international 's cross was met by his Belgian teammate who had made a 50-yard run to get into the penalty area . Arsenal , who also became the first team in Premier League history to win four games in a row after conceding the opening goal , are now three points ahead of Chelsea in the race for fourth place , with Newcastle a further five points behind in sixth place . Elsewhere in Europe , Getafe secured their first Spanish Primera Liga win since January with a 2-1 success at struggling Villarreal . Goals from Diego Castro and Abdelaziz Barrada proved enough for the Madrid-based side , who are now up to 13th in the table , while Villarreal remain just three points above the relegation zone . Meanwhile , Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven have dismissed coach Fred Rutten following a run of three straight defeats . Rutten , who took over as coach in April 2009 , is replaced by his assistant Phillip Cocu until the end of the season , after recent losses to FC Twente ( 6-2 ) , Valencia ( 4-2 ) and NAC Breda ( 3-1 ) .
A a minute Thomas Vermaelen goal sees Newcastle 2-1 defeat Arsenal . The win sees Arsenal close gap to third -placed Tottenham to just one point . Getafe claim a 2 -1 success at Villarreal in the Spanish Primera Liga on the end of the season . Spanish giants PSV Eindhoven sack coach Fred Rutten following a run of defeats .