Premier League - Arsenal sweep Newcastle aside

Eurosport - Sun, 31 Aug 14:35:00 2008

A depleted Newcastle United side were distinctly second best as they were well beaten 3-0 by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Premier League Arsenal Arsenal-Newcastle - 0

Dutch striker Robin van Persie scored twice, once from the penalty spot, with Denilson getting the third for the Gunners in a match that will be remembered as much for Joey Barton's cameo appearance as for the supreme football played by Arsene Wenger's side.

Scoring looked an inevitability for the home side virtually from the kick-off, with captain William Gallas shooting over the bar from two yards out as early as the third minute, but their reward for complete domination of possession came from the penalty spot after 18 minutes.

Emmanuel Adebayor's cross hit the outstretched arm of Charles N'Zogbia, and referee Rob Styles immediately pointed to the spot. Shay Given guessed the right direction but Van Persie's penalty was too powerful and it flew past the Irish keeper into the sidenetting.

The Dutch striker scored his second of the game and only his third Arsenal goal of an injury-plagued 2008 when he capped off a move more representative of his team's play.

Again it was Adebayor who put in the telling cross, this time a cut-back ball for Emmanuel Eboue. The midfielder - starting ahead of Theo Walcott - mis-controlled with his first touch when shooting could have been an option, but he rescued the situation with a cheeky backheel that Van Persie slid in to fire into the roof of the net from close range.

If the match could ever have been called a contest, it was ended as such on the hour mark when Denilson wrapped up another fine Arsenal move that involved Samir Nasri and Adebayor to make it 3-0.

Newcastle were struggling with injuries to the extent that manager Kevin Keegan was forced to start an unfit Shola Ameobi up front with Michael Owen and teenage trio Ben Tozer, Ryan Donaldson and Nile Ranger on the bench.

Also named in the matchday squad was controversial midfielder Barton.

The midfielder is set for an FA disciplinary hearing next week after admitting assault on former team-mate Ousmane Dabo. Despite manager Kevin Keegan admitting Barton was not back to full fitness following his spell in prison for assault and affray, Newcastle want to see their £5.8 million investment retain as much of his value as possible.

The Merseysider came on for Jonas Gutierrez in the 89th minute, and was met by a small round of applause from some Newcastle fans and a chorus of boos from the rest of the crowd.

His first contribution to the game was to put in a hard tackle on Nasri, and give the Frenchman a wry smile as he squared up to him. Nasri got his revenge a minute later, however, when he let Barton run past him before slyly tripping him up. Referee Rob Styles spotted the incident and booked Nasri.

Aside from the goals, Arsenal had plenty of other chances to score, and were only thwarted by goalkeeper Shay Given. The Irishman was in outstanding form, making acrobatic saves from Kolo Toure and free-kicks from van Persie and Nasri among others.

As Newcastle's heads began to drop in the closing stages, Arsenal boss Wenger introduced Walcott and young striker Carlos Vela, and the duo combined excellently for the 19-year-old Mexican to have a an effort blocked on the edge of the area.

Late on Vela, Nasri and Adebayor all displayed wonderful skill in an excellent move that would have produced a contender for goal of the season had Walcott not blasted his shot wide of the near post, but the irresistible Gunners had already made their point.

Tony Mabert / Eurosport

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  1. Not surprised but its premature to start­ jubilating,what have arsenal done in the last 4­ seasons. NOTHING.without doubt they place good football­ but history will not remeber that. they need trophies.­ that is what we remain with them forever. CHELSEA 4­ LIFE.

    From look-woman, on Thu 4 Sep 3:00PM

  2. we are tired of being second or the third best­ side.Arsene has failed us.Why not spent on major­ signings.Look at Chelsea,Man U ,Liverpool and Man­ C.Schoolboys can not win us trophies or any silver ware­ except only being close.LOOK at the LEAGUE last season­ and also the Champions League.WE WERE ONLY­ CLOSE.................................

    From arnlens, on Thu 4 Sep 7:49AM

  3. when r arsenal fans goin to get tired at not winnin a­ thing. arsene wenger has lost the plot big time no­ trophys in 4years and no closer at the minute, he goes­ on about building a team then lets 2 first team players­ leave one 4 free . he is obsesed with young players­ with potential but everyone knows to win the league u­ need world class stars with that vital know how and­ experience , it will not belong before the likes of man­ c liverpool and even villa with there willingness to­ spend money overtake them. dont be fooled by the result­ vs a poor newcastle side .

    From berniewaring, on Tue 2 Sep 6:12PM

  4. Or perhaps vieira is retiring & looking for­ managerial role? He's too old for arsenal games­ & he will become like gilberto, supporting cesc.­ Cos, if he become the influential figure at­ arsenal's centre, fab won't be able to work his­ magic. It's like playing lamps & gerrard­ together in three lions.

    From Jo, on Tue 2 Sep 2:13AM

  5. Arsenal is something in itself..World Record Breaker...

    From Ruth, on Mon 1 Sep 10:18AM

  6. just like my other comment...:
    ARSENAL the BEST TEAM in­ the WORLD
    YEI

    From michael_mj_17, on Mon 1 Sep 6:31AM

  7. stevenellson, do you live in scotland? why don't­ you support scotland, if you do? you are 19 and you­ have 45000 job in it, there is only two ways to be­ earning that in it world contracts or mid management,­ both need atleast experience, contacts 2-3 years,­ management 10-15 years. ontop of that it's­ completely dry in the job market for any jobs, its all­ going to eastern europe, absolutely no contract jobs.­ if it is so saturated why would a sane person give a 17­ year old with no experience over and beyond another­ 20-30 applying with degrees MAs and experience. dude i­ smell BS.

    but i have figured out how you get your­ monies, you're bartons little boy toy, it's­ like jail love.

    From imadhurata, on Sun 31 Aug 4:50PM

  8. what the hell was newcastles game plan 11 men in the­ box,no mid- field,Owen is so slow, let him go,i would­ rather see some of the young ones out there,no pace on­ attacking build up,Ashley sell the culb to some who­ wants a winning team,

    From allan, on Sun 31 Aug 2:46PM

  9. chrisleach1980 you sad scouse muppet,grow up

    From johnbarrass, on Sun 31 Aug 1:48PM

  10. chrisleach1980 ur such a carpet muncher u no that?

    From sam2lloyd, on Sun 31 Aug 1:10PM

  11. chrisleach1980 what a @#$%

    From mark, on Sun 31 Aug 12:53PM

  12. Well said Geoff D. Nice to hear some positivity on here­ at last. Wenger knows what he's doing and he's­ proved it time and time again. He's made some of­ the shrewdest buys in the premier league, so cut him­ some slack. I would rather watch our style of play­ through sheer effort and heart than go and watch some­ over-rated prima donna who cost 50 million moan and­ whinge his way through a game. The sad thing is when­ this young team finally clicks and grows up, all you­ negative twats will be championing them and saying­ 'we knew it all along'. Get behind the bloody­ team and stop whinging or at least go join the other­ whingers in the shittier part of North London.

    From LEE B, on Sun 31 Aug 12:29PM

  13. arsenal have played well,, come on gunners ,,,

    From lindafranklin126, on Sun 31 Aug 12:19PM

  14. imadhurata, lets just say.... i dont rob banks and i­ sure as hell dont rob little old ladies. I aint a­ working class chav like arfan said. I earn my money­ respectfully and honestly as an IT and administration­ director for the main part of the uk! A lot of­ travelling, a lot of work. I dont support the racist­ thug. I support his footballing ability. Let him be and­ let him play his game as he can. Everybody knows he is­ a great footballer and one that could quite capably­ help us as part of the england squad. I understand that­ he did a terrible thing in the racial attack but thats­ not football. Thats part of his life, everybody makes a­ mistake. He seems to have learnt from that but you­ never know, He may make the mistake again. but for now,­ cant you just leave him alone and let him live his life­ as a football player. HE HAS DONE HIS FOOKING SENTENCE­ HE HAS SERVED HIS @#$% PUNISHMENT

    From SpongeBobTrianglePants, on Sun 31 Aug 12:12PM

  15. HEY!!!!! Am I the only one who is wondering why Patrick­ Vieira was sitting with Silvestre at the Arsenal match­ instead of in Italy watching Inter's first game of­ the season. I know he is injured, but shouldn't he­ be supporting his own team? Unless....There is a major­ transfer about to happen bringing him back to the­ gunners. They need a midfielder who both has experience­ and knows how to play the game the Arsenal way. Who­ better?

    From petesprankle, on Sun 31 Aug 11:16AM

  16. I`m with Geoff D....leave it to AW...Barton is a waster­ there have been bigger and better wasters than him..the­ lunge was bad and the exacting of retribution was­ punished

    From gunner4life, on Sun 31 Aug 11:11AM

  17. come on guys,

    didn't anybody see the footage of­ the assault on Dabo? He almos killed the guy!! Barton­ got off easy, as far as i'm concerned. To be­ honest, he should be banned for a loooooong time.

    From Gabby, on Sun 31 Aug 10:53AM

  18. p.s Barton would of been booed wherever he played, he,s­ a nasty bit of work, stubbing a cigarette out in a­ young players eye fer ferks sake! personally i wish­ nasri had walked over his back once he hit the floor!

    From fabongrass, on Sun 31 Aug 10:36AM

  19. Lets all pick to bits an excellent arsenal performance­ and find negatives! what a joke some of you so called­ arsenal supporters are! lets tell wenger he HAS to buy,­ tell you what lets tell him to buy­ henry,viera,lungberg,pires,overmars,cole bring bergkamp­ out of retirement sign anelka and every other ex­ arsenal player because wenger clearly has no idea how­ to manage arsenal, wow i got a great idea A BIG NAME­ SIGNING......davor suker!!! he,ll be GREAT!!! Wengers­ got MY support,MY trust Because i,ve seen the teams­ he,s produced over and over again and because i,ve­ heard him being written off over and over again and yet­ he has very rarely been wrong.........HAVE SOME FAITH­ YOU LOT! if wenger left us you,d be crying in yer­ beers,IF HE DOESNT BUY HE DOESNT FEEL THE NEED,he,ll­ buy if he needs to, show a bit of LOYALTY!i,d rather­ have wenger than mourinho,ferguson,benitez or ANY other­ manager on the planet! WE PLAY GREAT FOOTBALL! probaly­ the BEST football in europe and i cant wait for the­ next game!

    From fabongrass, on Sun 31 Aug 10:31AM

  20. chrisleach1980 is a Di"khead

    From , on Sun 31 Aug 10:20AM
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