Newcastle United and Arsenal played out a uninspiring goalless draw at St James’ Park on Saturday to kick-off the new Premier League season.

The match itself was overshadow by two second-half incidents involving Joey Barton.

The first saw Arsenal’s Alex Song cynically stamp on Barton’s ankle while the Newcastle midfielder was on the ground.

Luckily for Song neither the referee or linesman saw the incident otherwise he would have been undoubtedly shown a red card.

Then Barton was in the centre of a things again. Gervinho took a dive in the box following a challenge which Barton took exception to and the Newcastle midfielder then needlessly proceeded to man-handed Gervinho to his feet. The Arsenal forward reacted and slapped Barton in the face. Gervinho was sent off and Barton was lucky not to join him.

What the FA will do to Song and Barton if they review both incidents we’ll have to wait a see.

Back to the game and Newcastle gave debuts to summer signings Yohan Cabaye and Demba Ba, while Gabriel Obertan also made his debut after replacing Ba at half-time.

Newcastle lacked much creativity with both strikers looking very isolated. While Arsenal were not their fluid self, resulting in a match that contained a mere five shots on target, only one of which was for Newcastle.

Neither team deserved to win the game and a draw was probably a fair result.

– Match 1
Date: Saturday 13th August 2011
Venue: St James’ Park
Kick-Off: 5:30pm (GMT)
Attendance: 46,894 (3,352 Arsenal)
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)

Newcastle United (4-4-2): Tim Krul; Danny Simpson, Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Ryan Taylor; Joey Barton, Yohan Cabaye (Peter Lovenkrands 80), Cheik Tiote, Jonas Gutierrez; Shola Ameobi (Leon Best 73), Demba Ba (Gabriel Obertan 46)
Subs not used: Fraser Forster, Mike Williamson, Dan Gosling, Sammy Ameobi

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Wojciech Szczesny; Bacary Sagna, Laurent Koscielny, Thomas Vermaelen, Kieran Gibbs; Alex Song, Aaron Ramsey (Johan Djourou 90); Gervinho, Tomas Rosicky (Emmanuel Frimpong 85), Andrei Arshavin (Theo Walcott 61); Robin van Persie (c)
Subs not used: Lukasz Fabianski, Carl Jenkinson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Marouane Chamakh

Andrew McTernan – Row ‘S’ Army

2011/2012 – Match 1

ARSENAL (H)

Date: Sunday 14th August 2011
Venue: St James’ Park
Kick-Off: 2:30am (AEST), 2am (SA), 12:30am (WA)
Referee: Peter Walton (Northampton)
Australian TV: Live on Foxsports 2

Last 5 Form:

Match Stats:
All Time Head-To-Head: Newcastle 66 wins, Draws 37, Arsenal 65 wins

Odds:
Brought to you in association with…

Newcastle $3.50, Draw $3.18, Arsenal $2.00

Did You Know?
Newcastle have not won any of their last five home matches against Arsenal (four league, one cup). Their last home win over the Gunners was in December 2005 when Nobby Solano’s goal eight minutes from time gave the Magpies victory.

Team News:
Newcastle - Despite returning to training on Thursday following an ankle injury, Shane Ferguson is not expected to start. Midfielder Danny Guthrie (ankle) also remains a major doubt, while forward Hatem Ben Arfa will play no part as he continues his rehabilitation from an ankle injury picked up on the pre-season tour of America.

Arsenal - Midfielders Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri have been left out of the Gunners’ squad, while Abou Diaby and Jack Wilshere are both ruled out through injury. Winger Theo Walcott is in contention after recovering from a knock, however Robin van Persie (knee) and Kieran Gibbs (thigh) both face late fitness tests.

Match Preview
Newcastle United start the 2011-2012 season off with a home match against Arsenal this Saturday night at St James’ Park. Neither club can claim to have had an ideal pre-season as both teams come into this match under a cloud.

The Magpies pre-season has included crowd trouble, visa issues, injuries and importantly the sale of both Kevin Nolan and Jose Enrique, while Joey Barton has also been transfer-listed and looks the next person to exit the club. These departures, and the sale of Andy Carroll in January, have robbed the squad of its most influential and best performing players of the last two years. While there has been additions made with Yohan Cabaye, Sylvain Marveaux, Demba Ba, Mehdi Abeid and Gabriel Obertan all coming in, the team now has a transitional feel to it that lacks proven quality and established Premier League footballers in key areas.

Arsenal themselves have had troubles too. Both Gael Clichy and Denilson have left the club, while the worst kept secret of the last two years appears to be happening with captain Cese Fabregas finally making his big move to Barcelona. To make matters worse Arsene Wenger is struggling to keep hold of playmaker Samir Nasri with both Manchester clubs chasing after the 24 year-old French International, which has resulted in Wenger not considering Nasri for the opening weekend.

The last time these two sides met was a classic, back in February Arsenal went 0-4 up after only 26 minutes before Newcastle staged a remarkable second-half comeback to level the match 4-4 with a brilliant late strike from Cheik Tiote. (Therefore, this game surely has 0-0 written all over it!)

As this is a Newcastle home game it is crucial for manager Alan Pardew to play a 4-4-2 formation and attempt to take the game to Arsenal, as we may never have a better chance to catch the Gunners so unsettled. However, the exit on Friday of Enrique means Pardew is short of options at left-back, with Shane Ferguson only returning to training this week, it means Ryan Taylor should come into the side at left-back or Danny Simpson will swap over to the left. With that in mind fingers crossed Theo Walcott is not considered fit enough to start or we may get destroyed down our left hand side.

In the centre of midfield Pardew has a tricky decision to make with Dan Gosling having a very encouraging pre-season, will he decide to start new signing Cabaye or play Gosling alongside the rock that is Cheik Tiote. Upfront I’m expecting Demba Ba to make his debut alongside Shola Ameobi.

Finally what about Joey Barton? With Barton now returning to training with the first-team have enough bridges been re-built in recent days for him to start or will new signing Obertan make his debut? Personally, I don’t think Pardew will play Barton given how public the row has been over the last two weeks, but stranger thinks have happened.

My Starting XI:
Tim Krul
Danny Simpson, Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini, Ryan Taylor
Gabriel Obertan, Cheik Tiote, Yohan Cabaye, Jonas Gutierrez,
Shola Ameobi, Demba Ba

After a 6 months to forget with Newcastle United officially becoming a selling club again, it will be nice to forget about all that and watch the Toon play some football in anger. And we may just catch Arsenal on the hop so you never know… HOWAY THE LADS!

Andrew McTernan – Row ‘S’ Army

Season 2010/2011 – Match 11

Date: Sunday 7th November 2010
Kick-off: 1:30pm (GMT)
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)
Attendance: 60,059 including a sold-out away full of 2,000 Magpies

Teams
Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Koscielny, Squillaci, Clichy, Fabregas, Nasri (Arshavin 56), Walcott, A Song, Wilshere (Bendtner 73), Chamakh (Van Persie 57)
Subs Not Used: Szczesny, Djourou, Eboue, Rosicky
Booked: Clichy, Sagna, Koscienly, Fabregas
Red Cards: Koscienly

Newcastle: Krul, Simpson, Jose Enrique, Coloccini, Williamson, Barton, Tiote, Nolan, Gutierrez, Ameobi (Ranger 82), Carroll
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Campbell, Steven Taylor, Smith, Routledge, Lovenkrands
Booked: Tiote

Goals: Carroll 45

Post-match comments:

Newcastle manager Chris Hughton said:

“With Andy (Carroll), it’s about making sure that all the headlines he is making are on the back pages. He is a young man, he has made mistakes, but he has got to make sure he learns from those mistakes, and I am quite sure he will. He is an environment here where he is getting a lot of support from the club, certainly the staff and the supporters, and I am quite sure his concentrations will be very much on football, 100 per cent. Young professional footballers are easier targets. They have a different lifestyle, as people see it. They are young, privileged men and that’s how people see it. They have got to make sure they don’t get caught up in the pitfalls of it all. All we can do for our part is support him and create an environment in which he can flourish. At the moment, he is a young man who is playing very well on the back of an excellent performance at Arsenal. The reason why we gave him that number nine shirt is because we saw that potential in him, and we hope that continues. He is a player in form. He is, of course, a little bit different to a lot of the other England strikers at this particular moment, which perhaps sets him apart. He is an old-fashioned centre-forward, he is left-sided and has a prowess in the air. He is certainly different. He is still developing his game, he will have bad periods, he will have ups and downs as all centre-forwards do, but at the moment, he is a player playing very, very well. He’s providing the team with a wonderful platform up front and scoring goals as well. The most important thing is that his mind is very much concentrated on doing the best job he can for this football club. He has a prowess in the air but he has other aspects in his game. He gives us a mobility that stretches defences. He has a way to go and is working on other aspects of his game. I would love to see him picked for Newcastle United, that’s all I’m bothered about. There was no question he would play after what has been written about him. I made a selection based on the continuity in the last couple of games. Andy is mentally very strong and not difficult to manage. This is a team that worked hard to get promotion back to this division. They know where they want to be. This result showed what it meant to everyone.  It was a magnificent team effort. It is a very difficult place to come and get a result and come and get a victory. You know before the game they are a side that will have the majority of possession, they had quality to bring on, difficult day.”

Match Highlights

Match Report
Newcastle United rounded off a remarkable week with a convincing 1-0 victory over Arsenal at Emirates Stadium which moved the Magpies up to 5th place in the league. This was Newcastle’s first victory away to Arsenal since that historic Monday night in December 2001 when they beat the Gunners 3-1 at Highbury to break the 30 game streak without a win in London.

It was a towering Andy Carroll header on the stroke of half-time that won the game for the Magpies. Joey Barton floated a free-kick deep into the box and Carroll got his head to the ball before goalkeeper Fabianski to direct it into the back of the empty net.

As spectacular and memorable the 5-1 victory over 5under1and was last week, this performance and result was perhaps even more eye catching from Chris Hughton’s team. Newcastle did ride their lucky at couple of times with Theo Walcott hitting the crossbar and Tim Krul making a fine one-handed save, but don’t take any of the credit away from the Magpies.

Not many teams leave the Emirates stadium having had more possession during the 90 minutes than Arsenal (49% to 51%). Arsenal are the kings of the possession football game, there ability to keep the ball and pass teams to death is Arsene Wenger’s trade mark. However, we are starting to see Hughton getting his team to play this attractive and effective style of play also. Last week 5under1and were unable to cope with the Newcastle passing game and it was most encouraging to see them try to play the same style at times away from home.

Naturally a lot more defending was required in this game and the back four & goalkeeper did a remarkable job. Jose Enrique restricted his usual forward runs and comfortably contained the pacey Walcott down the Arsenal right-flank for the vast majority of the game. On the opposite side right-back Danny Simpson probably had his best game in a black & white shirt, his awareness to read the game and his ability to tackle and break down the attacking threats has been a welcome addition since his return from injury. And again Mike Williamson & Fabricio Coloccini were the rock in the middle of the defence.

In midfield Cheik Tiote’s reputation is growing rapidly with every game. The Ivorian international again was outstanding in the middle of the park running the show against some world class opposition. Barton also was highly influential playing out wide of the right hand side of midfield, his accurate passing and crossing crucial to Newcastle’s attacks.

Finally upfront the partnership of Andy Carroll and Shola Ameobi is blossoming into a good one since Hughton decided to switch from 4-5-1 to 4-4-2. Amoebi had one of his more impressive and effective away performances, he held up the ball well and ran at the Arsenal defence when he could, while Carroll chased every ball and his arial ability caused the Arsenal defence plenty of headaches.

Full credit to Chris Hughton he really has taken this Newcastle United team to a new level this season. Not just with the results he is getting but in the manor is which they are doing it. We haven’t seen this type of quality football played since I’ve moved to Australia and long may it continue.

Andrew McTernan – Row ‘S’ Army

Season 2010/2011 – Match 11

Arsenal (a)

Date: Monday 8th November 2010
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Kick-Off: 12:30am (AEDT), 12am (SA), 11:30pm (QLD), 11pm (NT), 9:30pm (WA)
Referee: Mike Dean (The Wirral)
Australian TV: Live on Foxsports 1
Forum: Match Thread

Last 5 Form:
Newcastle United
PL – 5under1and (h) W 5-1
CC4 – Arsenal (h) L 0-4
PL – West Ham (a) W 2-1
PL – Wigan (h) D 2-2
PL – Man City (a) L 1-2

Arsenal
UCL – Shakhtar Donetsk (a) L 1-2
PL – West Ham (h) W 1-0
CC4 – Newcastle (a) W 4-0
PL – Man City (a) W 3-0
UCL – Shakhtar Donetsk (h) W 5-1
PL – Birmingham City (h) W 2-1

Match Stats:
All time – Arsenal 65 win, draws 36, Newcastle 65 wins

Odds:
Brought to you in association with…

Arsenal $1.30, Draw $5.00, Newcastle $11.00

Did You Know?
Newcastle United have not beaten Arsenal away in ten games and in the five visits since the Emirates Stadium was built, they have drawn one and lost four, scoring only one goal in those games.

Team News:
Arsenal are expected to have captain Cesc Fabregas back after he missed the midweek trip to the Ukraine and young starlet Jack Wilshere returns from suspension. Midfielders Alex Song (calf), Denilson (groin), Andrey Arshavin (virus) remain doubtful while Manuel Alumunia, Abou Diaby, Robin Van Persie, Emmanuel Frimpong, Kieron Gibbs, Aaron Ramsey and Thomas Vermaelen are all still on the injury list.

Newcastle United are still without long term injury victims Hatem Ben Arfa (broken leg), Dan Gosling (knee), Leon Best (ankle), Stephen Harper (shoulder), while Sol Campbell (thigh) is rated doubtful.

Match Preview
Newcastle United travel down to London to taken on Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in a live Sunday lunchtime kick-off.

Following on from their emphatic victory over 5under1and last Sunday Chris Hughton and his team will be full confidence ahead of this difficult trip. Hughton spoke to the press ahead of the game saying:

“It goes without saying – you have to be confident after that (5under1and victory), how can you not be? But whether you’re confident or not, we are going to as tough a place as they come in Arsenal. Most would consider it one of the most difficult. But we go there with confidence and the feel-good factor is there from the last couple of Premier League games. We must be mindful of the quality they have, but not fear it. We are aware of what they achieved in their Carling Cup game and that they have also had a midweek game in the Champions League. They were able to rest a number of their players in that game. But in view of whether they play them again or they rest them, one thing I do know is how they will play. They play the same type of football throughout and we all know what it is. And whatever side they put out, it will be a top-class side. There will be no surprises there. The way they play they can bring in quality players whenever they like. And we have to play as well as they do if we are to get a result.”

Despite the fact that Newcastle have a very poor recent record away at Arsenal the football played by Hughton’s team last week was some of the best we have seen at St James’ Park for a long time. Of course playing Arsenal on their own turf is a tough assignment for any team in the Premier League. Hughton’s recent change of preference from a 4-5-1 to a 4-4-2 formation away from home should give Newcastle plenty of attacking threat and with this set to be Arsenal’s fourth game in 10 days, including a trip to the Ukraine, they may never be a better time to catch the Gunners cold.

Arsenal’s only home league defeat so far this season has come against fellow newly promoted side West Bromwich Albion. That day WBA took the game to the home side and were 0-3 up before Arsenal clawed back two late goals.

Key to the game will be how Newcastle’s back four of Danny Simpson, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini and Jose Enrique cope with the first 30 minutes of the match. An early goal for the Gunners could spell disaster for the Magpies, with the free flowing football of Arsenal making it very difficult to come from behind against, as the likes of Samri Nasri, Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshire will exposure any space given to them in the final third.

Left-back Enrique will need to be at his best to stop the in-form Walcott, the England International scored two goals in the Carling Cup last week and another good goal against Shakhtar Donetsk in midweek. Walcott’s pace will no doubt force Enrique to not have the luxury of being able to support Jonas Gutierrez as often as he would like. Meaning Enrique can ill afford to give Walcott any space to utilise his blistering pace and this is something manager Hughton will be mindful of.

For Newcastle the onus will be on strikers Shola Ameobi and Andy Carroll to cause the Arsenal defence as much trouble as possible. For this to happen it will require some good quality service from the midfield, meaning the delivery out wide from Joey Barton and Gutierrez will be vital. If Carroll and Ameobi can make life difficult for the Arsenal defenders, then the space in behind can be expoilted by Kevin Nolan who thrieves off the knock down’s from the big men.

A Newcastle United victory is not of the question, but Arsenal rightly start as overwheleming favourites, so it will be interesting to see if United can continue on from where they left off last week and any postitive result here would be seen as a bonus for the season.

HOWAY THE LADS!!!

Andrew McTernan – Row ‘S’ Army