Saturday August 13, 2011 Day 1 Finished Sports Direct Arena

  1. Gervinho off on debut as Arsenal held

    Gervinho off on debut as Arsenal held

    Gervinho's Arsenal debut ended in disgrace as he was sent off in a goalless Premier League draw at Newcastle United. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Newcastle United
    • Arsenal
    • 90+4 There's the whistle, a goalless draw and a couple of talking points - should Song have been sent off too and should Barton have gone in the incident that saw Gervinho red carded? Tell me on Twitter!
    • 90+4 Tiote mistimes the challenge and Arsenal could be in... Djourou plays it behind Walcott on the right, slowing it down, he beats one man but a poor touch and out for a goal kick.
    • 90+3 ARSENAL SUB: Djourou on for Ramsey.
    • 90+3 Obertan on it now, holding off Gibbs. Simpson crosses, headed away by Vermaelen.
    • 90+2 Barton puts the ball in but cleared. Toon still have it with Taylor. Best on it, now Coloccini wide right, great cross AND TAYLOR ATTACKS but superb defending from Koscielny diving in to head behind!
    • 90+1 Vermaelen with a cynical foul on Best and he is carded.
    • 90' Four minutes added on.
    • 88' All a bit slow now as neither side takes a risk...
    • 86' What little fizz this second half had well and truly went flat when Arsenal went down to 10 men. Looking like a training-ground exercise now.
    • 85' ARSENAL SUB: Frimpong on... Not sure who for. Rosicky maybe?
    • 84' Barton and Song share a hug, making up after that nasty stamp from the Arsenal man earlier.
    • 83' Tiote needs treatment... Leg it seems.
    • 82' Tiote is down hurt but play on, Gibbs on the ball, crossed far post by Walcott but headed at Krul by Gibbs again.
    • 81' Toon swarm forward now and Barton hammers a smashing half volley over the bar!
    • 80' A wild volley by Taylor well over.
    • 79' Ramsey on the charge and he works a position but drags a weak shot in.
    • 78' Szczesny booked for some nonsense surrounding that. Sigh.
    • 77' Oh dear. The replay shows that Gervinho slapped him a bit and Barton made the most of it. The irony.
    • 76' Barton gets a yellow. Honestly I think that's fair - he ran over to remonstrate with Gervinho, who should have just walked away.
    • 76' Gervinho is sent off on his Arsenal debut! He did what he has done all day and run through but messed it up, then dived, then reacted to Barton's provocation.
    • 75' Barton loses his head with Gervinho after the Arsenal debutant dives... Gervinho then smacks him in the face! Crikey! Gervinho should go, Barton should be booked...
    • 74' Good defending from Koscielny as Barton sent Best scuttling through.
    • 73' NEWCASTLE SUB: Best on for Ameobi. Two popular lads on Tyneside.
    • 73' Toon now with some neat passing as they work an opportunity.
    • 72' Gervinho on the right works a crossing space but slips and falls, spinning it into teh side netting.
    • 71' Barton almost sends Ameobi clean through as Obertan led the break.
    • 71' Great dribbling from Gibbs, who looks a real player on this showing. Obviously though Rosicky's final ball lets him down. Sad face.
    • 70' Jonas almost slides through Obertan, who is looking more than useful.
    • 69' Gervinho on the right but again poor final ball, straight at Krul.
    • 68' Cabaye with an ambitious pass aimed for Obertan but not even he is quick enough for that.
    • 67' Sagna chases down a long ball but super pressing from Obertan to nick it from him but Barton is tackled and cleared. Tiote late on Ramsey, he gets a yellow card. Standard for him...
    • 66' Booming tackle from Coloccini on Walcott. Old school. Sagna has a pop from way out, miles over.
    • 65' Ramsey on the ball, inside to Walcott who has a dig through Simpson's legs but straight at Krul and not enough power.
    • 64' Coloccini hooks it clear awkwardly after some nice build-up play from the Gunners.
    • 63' RvP slides in Walcott, good show of pace but S.Taylor - who has been superb - beats him to it to clear.
    • 62' Good through ball from Song but Van Persie not quite quick enough to reach it.
    • 61' ARSENAL SUB: Walcott on for Arshavin.
    • 60' Chance for Toon as Cabaye skips through but the ball slips away from him and Szczesny clears. Lovely skill from Obertan to set him up.
    • 59' The replay shows a clear stamp from Song on Barton after Barton slid in fairly on him. The ref books him - should have been red.
    • 58' Song leaves his foot in on Barton who is in some pain, the boot flew off and Barton is furious! He is really angry with Song.
    • 57' Barton swings a free-kick in but Koscielny clears. Barton again crosses but again cleared.
    • 56' The batteries have run out of the comms system between the ref and fourth official. Are you kidding me?
    • 55' Great play by Arshavin to get out of a tight spot and dig out a pass but too heavy for RvP.
    • 54' Van Persie to take this, just on the edge of the right corner of the box... JUST OVER! Great effort from an angle, curling and speedy but inches over and on the roof of the net.
    • 53' Song surges forward, wide right to RvP, now Sagna overlapping... Hacked down by Jose on the edge of the box. Late reaction from Sagna, clear free kick though.
    • 52' Gervinho again gets in with his pace on the left but again his low cross is blocked by S.Taylor.
    • 51' Arsenal throw on the right hurled in and Toon clear. Rosicky fells Jonas in full flight and I think he'll get booked.
    • 50' Good defending from Sagna and long for RvP, he knocks it down for Gervinho who has no support. Krul clears.
    • 49' Ramsey nudges Jonas as the Argentine surges forward. Free kick. Arsenal getting scrappy now.
    • 48' Booking to Gibbs for a foul on Barton. Late to be fair.
    • 47' Good run with Cabaye down the right but his low ball is cleared.
    • 46' The second half is underway!
    • - NEWCASTLE SUB: Obertan is coming on for Newcastle... Ba off. Weird.
    • - Jack Wilshere tweets: "Need to get theo on and attacking the full backs!"
    • - A lot of you are saying Walcott should come on for Arsenal... Let's see if Wenger agrees. Would be interested to see Chamberlain too. Engage with me on Twitter...
    • 45+2 Half time and goalless - not too many chances, Arsenal running the game but Toon holding firm and a touch dangerous on the counter.
    • 45+1 Coloccini is booked for a tangle with Gervinho. Harsh.
    • 45+1 Two minutes added on.
    • 45' Wasteful from Ryan Taylor with the free-kick. Straight into the first man.
    • 44' Very clever header wide right from Barton, Simpson crosses but Szczesny punches clear. Barton then wins a free kick.
    • 43' Almost a chance for RvP after a wonderful scooped pass from Arshavin but the bounce takes it backwards and Taylor clears.
    • 42' Again a lull in the game. As expected Arsenal have bossed possession but lacked the killer pass, although Toon have defended well.
    • 40' Arshavin crosses but too close to Krul, who gathers into his chest.
    • 39' Coloccini stands firm to intercept Gervinho's low ball aimed at RvP from the left side of the box. The Ivorian shows great pace and movement but his football's not been amazing.
    • 38' Ramsey feeds RvP, there's space but he runs into a gang of defenders and Toon clear for now.
    • 37' Gibbs is hauled back after committing a foul. Wenger looks on with mild concern.
    • 36' Poor cross from Gibbs, overhit, and Krul almost fumbles it but holds on. Down the other end Sagna does a good job to keep Ba at bay.
    • 35' Taylor's ball in morphs into a shot and almost catches Szczesny out before flying well wide.
    • 34' Good ball by Barton, now Simpson crosses and it's off Sagna for a corner.
    • 33' RvP curls the corner in but cleared by Coloccini.
    • 32' Van Persie swings in a free-kick from the right, Tiote putting it behind for a corner as Koscielny attacks.
    • 31' Off the line by Ameobi I think! Poor keeping from Krul as he flapped at a cross and it was almost an own goal!
    • 30' Arsenal stroking it about again as Rosicky finds Van Persie, he slides it wide to Gibbs and Barton blocks. Should have had a shot or gone inside, RvP.
    • 29' Free-kick to the home side on the left, Ryan Taylor puts it in, Szczesny gets hold of it ahead of Steven Taylor though.
    • 28' Advantage played as Ba comes away with it but a foul by Song in response to a nutmeg and it's a booking.
    • 27' Rosicky slides in late on Ameobi. Free-kick no card.
    • 26' Now Toon have control of the ball but there's a slip up by Taylor, he goes down holding his face and Arshavin is in, two on one with Gervinho but Coloccini I think blocks his ball and it's away to safety.
    • 25' Arsenal knocking it about nicely now without really penetrating...
    • 24' A bit of a lull in this game now... Arsenal have asked all the questions so far but not bad on the break.
    • 22' Nice volley from Jonas after a Barton free-kick! Just wide though. Great technique.
    • 21' Toon free kick, some way out, Barton lumps it in for Taylor but Szczesny claims.
    • 20' Gervinho again down the right and a low ball in but straight into a sea of black and white. He's causing problems...
    • 19' The corner is swung in but cleared and Arsenal come again...
    • 18' Gervinho on the right now decent low ball in but Van Persie can't meet it, the Taylor celarance ricochets off Coloccini though but it comes too quickly to RvP and his finish is blocked wide!
    • 17' Szczesny pumps one long but straight to the keeper.
    • 16' An Arsenal attack breaks down and Toon can counter. That breaks down but Simpson gets the ball. Tackled by Gibbs
    • 14' Koscielny on the right, now Ramsey digs out a ball wide. Bit scrappy.
    • 13' Great intervention by Simpson as Arshavin crossed low for Gervinho! The Ivorian was about to pull the trigger!
    • 12' Newcastle aren't really getting Barton on the ball, which they probably need to start doing...
    • 10' Van Persie is free on the right but there is no-one in the middle and easily cleared by Taylor.
    • 9' Ameobi on the left, surges into the box and a lunge from Vermaelen I think but the ref says he got the ball.
    • 8' Gervinho wide left, runs into a blind alley with Tiote blocking him off. Great ball though but no-one there! Quick is the new lad.
    • 7' Decent start for Arsenal, Toon look a tiny bit ragged. Not surprising with all the changes...
    • 6' Sagna is down holding his braids... Clear elbow from Taylor as he won a header.
    • 5' Ameobi wins a free kick off Song, who leaves the boot in. 30 yards out, to the right... Poor ball from Barton.
    • 4' The ball drops to Ramsey but his shot is blocked by Steven Taylor.
    • 3' By the way, after Enrique was sold yesterday Ryan Taylor has been asked to play left back. Expect a signing soon though, Erik Pieters from PSV the tip.
    • 2' Rosicky fires wide after some neat interplay between Arshavin, Ramsey and Gervinho, who could have shot but lost control with a poor first competitive touch in an Arsenal shirt.
    • 1' Cabaye with an early touch. Let's see how he and Barton combine in the middle.
    • 1' The first half gets underway!
    • 17:30 Joker Geordies are dressed in berets and taches, waving the tricolore in tribute to the new French contingent on Tyneside - Cabaye, Obertan, Ba and Tiote (ish) and Marveaux, who is still injured and not in the squad today. And, of course, last year's signing Hatem Ben Arfa, also not involved today.
    • 17:25 What do you think of Arsenal's transfer dealings this summer? We have Gervinho and a load of kids and the impending exits of Cesc and Nasri, Clichy leaving plus several impending or confirmed fringe players out (Bendtner, Denilson, Eboue, Almunia). Engage with me on Twitter.
    • 17:20 Today's ref is Peter Walton of Northamptonshire.
    • 17:15 ARSENAL TEAM NEWS: No major surprises, with Gervinho starting after his £12m move but youngsters Alex Chamberlain and Carl Jenkinson on the bench after their summer moves. No Nasri or Cesc, of course - Tamsey and Rosicky occupy those roles, with Wilshere injured. Eboue, Bendtner, Vela, Almunia also left out as they should be sold soon.
    • 17:10 NEWCASTLE TEAM NEWS: So Barton starts! Well there's a surprise. He IS their best player... Starts for debutants Cabaye and Ba too. Obertan on the bench, as is Shola's brother Sammy.
    • 17:05 TEAMS - Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Gibbs, Song, Rosicky, Ramsey, Arshavin, Gervinho, Van Persie; Subs: Fabianski, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Djourou, Jenkinson, Frimpong, Chamakh /// Newcastle: Krul, Simpson, S. Taylor, Coloccini, R. Taylor, Barton, Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez, Ameobi, Ba; Subs: Forster, Williamson, Gosling, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi, Lovenkrands, Best
    • 17:00 If you missed the 3pm kick-offs, all your scores and scorers are right here.
    • 16:55 Cesc Fabregas is set to join Barcelona. He has provided 51 Premier League assists for the club over the last four seasons – more than any other player in the division. No other player had more than 37. The next most assists by an Arsenal player since the start of the 2007-08 season is Robin van Persie who has 25.
    • 16:50 The last meeting between these clubs was the 4-4 draw at St James Park on February 5, 2011. Arsenal were 4-0 up after 26 minutes and became the first club in Premier League history to fail to win having been leading by a four-goal margin.
    • 16:45 Welcome to LIVE coverage of the Premier League opening-day encounter between Newcastle and Arsenal from St James's Park.

  • Summary

    • 90+2 Barton puts the ball in but cleared. Toon still have it with Taylor. Best on it, now Coloccini wide right, great cross AND TAYLOR ATTACKS but superb defending from Koscielny diving in to head behind!
    • 81' Toon swarm forward now and Barton hammers a smashing half volley over the bar!
    • 76' Gervinho is sent off on his Arsenal debut! He did what he has done all day and run through but messed it up, then dived, then reacted to Barton's provocation.
    • 75' Barton loses his head with Gervinho after the Arsenal debutant dives... Gervinho then smacks him in the face! Crikey! Gervinho should go, Barton should be booked...
    • 65' Ramsey on the ball, inside to Walcott who has a dig through Simpson's legs but straight at Krul and not enough power.
    • 60' Chance for Toon as Cabaye skips through but the ball slips away from him and Szczesny clears. Lovely skill from Obertan to set him up.
    • 58' Song leaves his foot in on Barton who is in some pain, the boot flew off and Barton is furious! He is really angry with Song.
    • 54' Van Persie to take this, just on the edge of the right corner of the box... JUST OVER! Great effort from an angle, curling and speedy but inches over and on the roof of the net.
    • 31' Off the line by Ameobi I think! Poor keeping from Krul as he flapped at a cross and it was almost an own goal!
    • 22' Nice volley from Jonas after a Barton free-kick! Just wide though. Great technique.
    • 18' Gervinho on the right now decent low ball in but Van Persie can't meet it, the Taylor celarance ricochets off Coloccini though but it comes too quickly to RvP and his finish is blocked wide!
    • 13' Great intervention by Simpson as Arshavin crossed low for Gervinho! The Ivorian was about to pull the trigger!
    • 17:05 TEAMS - Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Gibbs, Song, Rosicky, Ramsey, Arshavin, Gervinho, Van Persie; Subs: Fabianski, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Djourou, Jenkinson, Frimpong, Chamakh /// Newcastle: Krul, Simpson, S. Taylor, Coloccini, R. Taylor, Barton, Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez, Ameobi, Ba; Subs: Forster, Williamson, Gosling, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi, Lovenkrands, Best

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      8 -
      Defenders
      7 -
      7.5 -
      Yellow Card 8.3 -
      7 -
      Midfielders
      Substitution Out81′ 8.7 -
      Yellow Card 6.5 -
      Yellow Card 8 -
      6.3 -
      Strikers
      Substitution Out45′ 5.8 -
      Substitution Out73′ 5 -
      Subs
      Substitution In73′ 4 -
      Substitution In45′ 5.3 -
      Substitution In81′ 5 -
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      Yellow Card 8.5 -
      Defenders
      6 -
      7 -
      Yellow Card 8.8 -
      Yellow Card 7.6 -
      Midfielders
      Yellow Card 7.3 -
      Substitution Out90′ 9 -
      Red Card 7.2 -
      Yellow Card Substitution Out85′ 8 -
      Substitution Out61′ 7.2 -
      Strikers
      7.8 -
      Subs
      Substitution In90′ 7.3 -
      Substitution In61′ 6.7 -
      Substitution In85′ 5.8 -