sad.

Newcastle skipper paves way for win By Martin Lipton

Arsenal 1 - 3 Newcastle United Alan Shearer scored from the penalty spot to end Newcastle's astonishing run of London failure last night - and Laurent Robert struck in injury time to put Bobby Robson's side on top of the Premiership. Laurent Robert sends keeper Stuart Taylor the wrong way (PhilCole/Allsport) Until referee Graham Poll sent off Ray Parlour for a first half foul Shearer, Arsenal had been in control even if they had only a goal from Robert Pires to show for it.

But a man light, they were soon pulled back when shocking marking allowed Andy O'Brien to equalise.

And after Poll apeared to have evened things up when he harshly dismissed Craig Bellamy following a clash with Ashley Cole, the official sent Highbury into a rage again five minutes from time.

Sol Campbell racing back appeared to have made the perfect tackle to dispossess Robert.

But Poll pointed to the spot and when Shearer smashed the ball home for his first goal at Highbury, Newcastle had won in London at the 30th time of asking - and Robert added to their joy when he slipped the ball past Stuart Taylor and into the corner of the net for the goal that put them ahead of Liverpool in the Premiership race.

At the end, Henry and other Arsenal players launched furious verbal attack on Poll.

Earlier, Parlour's return alongside Patrick Vieira only intensified the task facing Kieron Dyer as he made his first start in 10 months in a central midfield role.

Arsenal began displaying the confidence instilled by those wins over Manchester United and Juventus.

Henry provided electrifying move-ment and pace, and Pires soon showed he had got over the calf problem picked up at West Ham. He took Ashley Cole's clever ball and surged at the Newcastle defence before O'Brien made an important block.

The almost inevitable opener duly arrived after 20 minutes.

Henry showed trickery on the right as he hooked the ball back over his head, and although the initial cross bypassed Pires, he was perfectly placed to side-foot home from six yards when the alert Cole centred.

The platform for more, surely. Wiltord, fed by Parlour, might have claimed the second as Given dived to his left to push behind, although sloppy play by Cole and then Vieira could have been punished by a more adept team than Newcastle.

Parlour's unnecessary kick at Nikos Dabizas did not seem of much consequence, and it was Bellamy, booked for a pointless dissent, seemed more in danger of being sent off.

But after Henry had twice failed to take advantage of Pires' excellent work, it was Parlour who became the seventh Arsenal player dismissed this season as he brought Shearer down from behind.

The jeers for the referee were ill-directed. Parlour, sent off at Middlesbrough on the opening day of the season, will serve a two-game ban. More importantly, the game was suddenly up in the air again.

Wenger's response was to sacrifice Kanu at the break, Giovanni van Bronckhorst reinforcing midfield as Henry was left to forage alone up front.

Of more concern, though, was the ugly bump on Martin Keown's head after an accidental collision with Shearer, which resulted in a huge bandage being wrapped around the defender's skull.

Newcastle began to use the extra man to worry Wenger, even if Arsenal still looked the class act. Henry and then Pires were denied as pure football created openings which were not quite taken.

But Arsenal then fell asleep criminally to gift Newcastle the equaliser. Lomano Lua-Lua had been on the pitch for only 60 seconds when he floated in a corner to the near-post and O'Brien could not believe the space he was given to nod down and past the exposed Taylor.

Then, after Bellamy was dismissed, Shearer put Newcastle in front and Robert sealed the win when Robert raced clear to make it 3-1

-- Anonymous, December 19, 2001

Answers

See my post above. Why am I suprised by the bias - I should know by now.

-- Anonymous, December 19, 2001

Arsenal had been in control even if they had only a goal from Robert Pires to show for it.

so not THAT much control then?

shocking marking allowed Andy O'Brien to equalise.

As I say, not that much control then.

Henry provided electrifying move-ment and pace, and Pires soon showed he had got over the calf problem picked up at West Ham. He took Ashley Cole's clever ball and surged at the Newcastle defence before O'Brien made an important block.

How annoying - those Northerners getting in the way of all this electrifying football.

The platform for more, surely. Wiltord, fed by Parlour, might have claimed the second as Given dived to his left to push behind

Might have claimed the second but his shot wasn't good enough?

although sloppy play by Cole and then Vieira could have been punished by a more adept team than Newcastle.

And presumably a more adept team than Arsenal who seemed to have missed tons of chances. :-)

But after Henry had twice failed to take advantage of Pires' excellent work,

That's the Henry of electrifying movement and pace BTW. Not adept enough presumably ...

it was Parlour who became the seventh Arsenal player dismissed this season as he brought Shearer down from behind.

Seventh? Sounds like Arsenal make their own luck.

The jeers for the referee were ill-directed.

Thankyou.

Arsenal still looked the class act. Henry and then Pires were denied as pure football created openings which were not quite taken.

Perhaps a more adept team than Arsenal would have taken them? :-)

But Arsenal then fell asleep criminally to gift Newcastle the equaliser...O'Brien could not believe the space he was given to nod down and past the exposed Taylor.

Despite his disbelief he retained his adeptness though ...

I must admit I quite enjoyed this report.

-- Anonymous, December 19, 2001

Unlike a pint of stout, he's obviously very bitter.

This report is from a fanzine, surely?

-- Anonymous, December 19, 2001

Top analysis Jonno - although it would have been more professional, not to say objective, if you had simply written the original article.

-- Anonymous, December 19, 2001

i actually think the report is a valid interpretation of events except the bit about it not being a penalty.

-- Anonymous, December 19, 2001