Premier League - Arsenal deepen Toon gloom

Eurosport - Sun, 22 Mar 07:45:00 2009

Arsenal summoned a devastating second-half blitz to dispatch Newcastle 3-1 at St James' Park and escalate the home side's Premier League relegation fears.

Kolo Toure (left) and Samir Nasri (right) celebrate with Arsenal goalscorer Nicklas Bendtner - 0

Nicklas Bendtner, Abou Diaby and Samir Nasri all scored within 10 minutes for Arsenal, who had Manuel Almunia to thank for a first-half penalty save to deny Obafemi Martins.

Newcastle's goal came from Martins, who equalised Bendtner's opener to make up in part for his spot-kick failure.

The defeat leaves Newcastle languishing in the relegation zone, having mustered just two points from their last five matches.

The first chance of the night fell to Arsene Wenger's Arsenal, when William Gallas found himself unmarked six yards out from a right-wing corner. The French defender mis-timed his leap, however, and grazed a weak header wide.

On 15 minutes Robin van Persie found strike partner Bendtner with a slide-rule pass and the Dane drew a sharp save from Steve Harper with his low angled drive from 20 yards.

After an unconvincing opening, Newcastle began to settle. A period of possession followed and when Damien Duff went down under a clumsy challenge from Nasri the home side appealed furiously for a penalty. The referee waved play on, but Newcastle would not have to wait long for an opportunity.

With 23 minutes gone Almunia came to collect Duff's cross and in the process bundled over Ryan Taylor. The referee awarded the spot-kick, but replays suggested his decision was harsh on the visiting goalkeeper.

Arsenal's protests were replaced by celebration, however, when Martins stepped up and struck a weak penalty that Almunia saved comfortably.

The visitors then went close to going ahead themselves, but Andrei Arshavin's goal-bound shot was blocked by the influential Steven Taylor on the half-hour mark.

Taylor had minutes early been accused of directing an elbow at the Russian and television footage may yet lead to further investigation into the incident.

On 39 minutes Newcastle came close twice within a minute. Peter Lovenkrands had the first chance, but the striker failed to connect with a right-wing cross with the goal gaping. Martins then shot first-time from just inside the box and saw his effort fly just past the post.

On the brink of half-time Harper denied Van Persie with a fingertip save, before Steven Taylor once again came to Newcastle's rescue to deny the Dutchman for the second time in a minute.

The second half began with Newcastle in the ascendancy and it was very much against the run of play when they fell behind on 57 minutes.

Arshavin was the creator, curling in a free-kick from the left that Bendtner expertly headed past Harper to quieten the home fans.

But Arsenal's lead lasted barely a minute. Thirteen seconds after the re-start Gallas's indecision let in Martins, who gleefully drove home to soften the memory of his penalty miss earlier in the game.

Arsenal would not be denied. On 64 minutes Van Persie played in Diaby, who smashed a shot past Harper and into the roof of the net to put the visitors ahead once more.

Soon after Van Persie did it again, this time sliding in Nasri, who beat Harper at the near post to put Arsenal 3-1 ahead and out of reach.

Newcastle looked shell-shocked. Chris Hughton's side matched Arsenal for an hour, but in 10 dramatic minutes all three points had been ripped from their grasp.

There was still time for Martins to see a shot saved by Harper and for Diaby to crash a shot against the upright, but the game was effectively won with Nasri's goal.

Will Tidey / Eurosport

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  1. This 3-1 win made Arsenal a top 10 side in­ Confidence.

    CONFIDENCE TABLE (TOP­ 5)
    1.Liverpool
    2.Manchester­ U
    3.Chelsea
    4.Arsenal
    5.Bolton (4-1 against boro tells­ the story)

    OTHER ONE

    .Everton

    From Nath, on Mon 6 Apr 11:01AM

  2. Apologies to anyone who was offended, not my intention­ honestly.

    From Colin H, on Wed 25 Mar 7:06PM

  3. Thanks for the spelling lesson you had me there. Bob R­ i am not a country bumpkin and as for the games i have­ seen West Ham, in recent years none, but i would say­ overall about 400 and when you consider i live 135­ miles from Upton Park that is a long way for a home­ game. Have been to your ground at least five times and­ just about every other ground, stopped going when a­ turd held a knife at my throat just for supporting­ another team. Try a rugby match guys you might like it,­ your team are not bad.. Anyway i shall 'out'­ myself so to speak, i look around these forums and love­ the banter and abuse, some is hilarious and as you know­ i do join in, some to wind up as i have been doing with­ you lot. I think Newcastle is a GREAT ENGLISH CITY with­ GREAT ENGLISH PEOPLE and i wish some other regions had­ the same @#$% as most of you have then maybe this­ country would not be such a @#$% state. Have to admit i­ still think you are going to have to use patience, good­ luck.

    From Colin H, on Wed 25 Mar 6:36PM

  4. Why waste time on him mate? Newcastle fans know the­ truth. This bloke is a country bumpkin who likes to­ watch egg chasing more than football. I bet you can­ count the number of Hammers games he's been to on­ one hand. Don't let one prat sully your views on­ West Ham supporters, I agree most of them are decent­ blokes.

    From Bob R, on Wed 25 Mar 1:50PM

  5. Try visiting SJP on a match day; better still come with­ me to a game and i will gladly take you around the pubs­ before hand, and then to a game of your choice, and you­ can then gauge for yourself the REAL NUFC and its fans.

    From cameron w, on Wed 25 Mar 12:31PM

  6. co.hutch5391,
    so you are a Hammer huh; i have always­ admired West Ham fans, am seriously beginning to­ re-assess that now.
    So then, tell me, why are you so­ interested in a small club like NUFC - and why all the­ hatred? You know nothing of NUFC, only what you read­ via the media - where do you get your information from­ - is it the Newcastle Evening Chronicle, you know the­ local 'TRUSTWORTHY & RELIABLY INFORMED'­ outlet . . . or is it the tabloids and internet who­ just make it up as they go along.
    Let me spell it out­ for you:
    we fans have NEVER demanded success,
    we DO NOT­ say we are a big club,
    you speak of patience . . . is­ 40 YEARS not patience?

    From cameron w, on Wed 25 Mar 12:30PM
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    a friend of mine recommended me a HOT place­ ___classymingle.com____ She has been intimate with­ someone who she gets to know on this site , some­ celebrities have a profile on that site. you can talk­ with them online. loooool~~~

    From Lee J, on Wed 25 Mar 7:07AM

  8. co.hutch5391, isnt it doctors who use patients? Are you­ thick or do you need to use PATIENCE as you type???­ Also, how do you LOOSE your money???? The only thing­ round here thats turd is your spelling mate...

    From Tony K, on Tue 24 Mar 10:49PM

  9. dont all of these eedjots realise we have been waiting­ patiently for 40 years now

    From CARL, on Tue 24 Mar 10:09PM

  10. Cameron. Without the buy out you would have been in­ admin,. right and down, sure he might have made­ mistakes, but did he set out to ruin the club and loose­ all his money???? NO. You forget the eleven bottlers on­ the pitch, why did Given leave????, the whole place­ stank and that was everybody including the fans. How­ many managers have you had ????. Maybe you need to go­ down and start again, this time with your heads out of­ the clouds. As for jealousy, you must be having a joke,­ i live in a great rural town, support a successful­ rugby club, yes and i have been a football fan all my­ life also, West Ham actually. We did not like Curbs and­ he went, now look at the patients given to Zola even­ after some bad results, we believe he is on the right­ track. You show some patients if you ever get a decent­ coach, which i doubt because of your reputation. Also i­ did not use the word turd once.

    From Colin H, on Tue 24 Mar 9:16PM

  11. dont give up you Newcastle fans, you'll be watching­ the maggies playing Arsenal in the Premier league next­ season.. I think 2 Northeast clubs will be going down­ this season, and, Newcastle wont be one of them.. Check­ the final 8 matches to be played by each of the­ possible candidates for demotion..Newcastle dont­ worry.. by the Gunner fan..

    From arsnic, on Tue 24 Mar 8:16PM

  12. pathetic

    From CARL, on Tue 24 Mar 6:02PM

  13. 1/2 finals champions league: VILLAREAL vs F.C.PORTO

    From manuel f, on Tue 24 Mar 3:54PM

  14. took you as more of a 'Curious George' or­ 'In the night garden' fan Carl,muppets are way­ before your time.You on the school computer?

    From jack torrance, on Tue 24 Mar 3:22PM

  15. ...muppet
    your comments as well as your insults are­ truly pathetic
    now get back on your own site after you­ have signed-on

    From CARL, on Tue 24 Mar 3:05PM

  16. carl what you doing off school? you got mumps?

    From jack torrance, on Tue 24 Mar 12:27PM

  17. omg everyone gets so wound up...its international week­ now so chill!

    From Thomas, on Tue 24 Mar 11:51AM

  18. dont ever assume jack - you are a sill little man with­ major p.enis envy

    From CARL, on Tue 24 Mar 9:53AM

  19. co.hutch5391
    See you turd everybody tells you­ the­ same, when will you ever learn!!!
    Whatever ashley has­ 'pumped into the club' he is seeking to recoup­ by asking for such a hefty amount for the club you­ simple-minded cretin!!!!
    He is seeking to make minimum­ £100 million PROFIT!!!!!
    Tell me you ill-informed­ pillock, what exactly should we be grateful for?
    For­ the fact that he has single-handedly brought disaster­ to the club.
    Why don't you just go away somewhere­ quiet and die; you never have anything to say of any­ use, just unadulterated jealous bile - you are not­ welcome on this page.

    From cameron w, on Mon 23 Mar 10:16PM

  20. See you Newcastle turds Utd fans every body tells you­ the same, when will you ever learn, GIVE A MANAGER A­ CHANCE, that way you may get a decent one. You­ ungrateful twats, Ashley spent loads of his OWN money­ just clearing the bloody debts, infrastructure and­ stability [words to big for you thickos] is what you­ need, not a K K bottler who blew it for you. You do not­ have a divine right to win anything, you have no­ respect so you get none, no other club has such a bunch­ of treacherous, mouthy fans like yours, do not call it­ passion because it is not, spoil t brats more like it.­ Did you see Rooney and Ronaldo against Fulham, yep just­ like you lot, pathetic.

    From Colin H, on Mon 23 Mar 9:31PM
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