Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta praised his players after victory over Newcastle.
The Gunners followed up their win against Chelsea in midweek by taking three points from Newcastle on Sunday.
Arteta said, It's been critical because it's the most important part of the season, the nicest part of the season. Today we are second, but to play for the championship with three games to go against this team, and win, it doesn't get better than that.
If you want to be involved in elite sport, you have to embrace those moments. There's no giving up. I saw a lot of people after the City game almost turning back. I hate that, I'm not going to accept that from anybody, from the team, any members of staff.
We have to keep going because you never know. We have to keep digging - we've done it for 10 months, now is the moment to do it even harder than before."