Newcastle starts the game encouraging with Butt and Milner setting the tone in midfield with a couple of crunching tackles. But we suffer an early goal when N’Zogbia can only clear the ball as far Eboue from an Arsenal movement on the right-wing.
The Ivory Coast Eboue controls it before lifting a ball into the area looking for Emmanuel Adebayor, who has peeled away from David Rozehnal and controls on his chest before lashing right-footed past Shay Given in the 4th minutes.
The goal roused the Geordies crowd and immediately responded well and almost found an instant equaliser. Milner’s acceleration from left-wing centre found Geremi and make contact with the ball, his full power header evades Almunia’s upright just inches away.
Newcastle keep forcing to search for an equalizer, this is truly diferent Newcastle team that we seen
couple weeks ago at home. The lads now playing some football infront of 52,000 Geordies who gives them their full supports.
A series of Toon attacking saw Habib Beye working the ball away of his post up to the visitors’ area before lifts the ball into Smith 20 yards out with his back to goal. Smith chests into the path of the supporting Milner but he screws his shot wide of the target.
United keep working on set pieces and good passings trying to add pressing for that much-coveted leveller. Taylor sees his header punched onto the post by Almunia from N’Zogbia’s right-wing corner.
United have another flag-kick but this time Geremi’s delivery drifts beyong everyone inside the area. Too bad for Joey Barton who has a decent play tonight to receive a yellow card for no more than a shoulder barge on Gilberto on halfway.
Martins got a fifty-fifty chance in 43 minutes when he received the long ball from Newcastle area. Martins try to control the ball but the Arsenal defender quickly guard United striker to denied him creating space for shoot. The ball finally cleared by Gallas.
Newcastle United:
Shay Given, Habib Beye, Charles N’Zogbia, Steven Taylor, David Rozehnal, Nicky Butt, Joey Barton, Geremi (c), James Milner, Oba Martins, Alan Smith
Subs: Steve Harper, Jose Enrique, David Edgar, Emre, Mark Viduka
Arsenal:
Manuel Almunia, Bacary Sagna, Kolo Toure, Tomas Rosicky, Lassana Diarra, Eduardo Da Silva, William Gallas (c), Gilberto Silva, Gael Clichy, Emmanuel Adebayor, Emmanuel Eboue
Subs: Jens Lehmann, Denilson, Alexandre Song, Nicklas Bendtner, Theo Walcott
Referee: Mike Dean
Attendance: tbc