Arsenal 3 - 0 Newcastle United

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Tuesday Jan 29 2008 07:45

Arsenal moved back to the top of the Premier League table with their second 3-0 win over Newcastle United in the space of four days.

Goals from Emmanuel Adebayor, Mathieu Flamini and Cesc Fabregas served to see off a limp Kevin Keegan side.

The opening 15 minutes were a cagey affair with Arsenal full of running but all too often the final pass didn't find its target.

Arsenal's first real effort on goal came on 16 minutes when Abou Diaby dipped to meet Alex Hleb's cross from the right but his header flew high over the bar.

The Gunners would have taken the lead on 29 minutes had it not been for a timely interception from Stephen Carr to cut out Bacary Sagna's cross from the right before it was met by Eduardo, who was sliding in to redirect the ball past Shay Given.

The Gunners were denied a penalty a minute later when Claudio Cacapa appeared to cut out Adebayor's cross with his arm.

The appeals were waved away by referee Mike Riley and his assistant, who was just yards away.

Adebayor went close on 39 minutes with a spectacular full-blooded volley from Flamini's pass, but the Togo striker went for power when a little more emphasis on accuracy would have been the better option.

But he made amends just two minutes later when, again from an inch-perfect Flamini cross, he got in front of his marker to head past Given from just three yards out.

Newcastle came out for the second half with more purpose but their urgency was soon lost as Arsenal, for their part, looked to have at least another goal in them.

Diaby was wide with a shot and Flamini had an effort from the edge of the box comfortably saved on 68 minutes.

Arsene Wenger brought on Nicklas Bendtner on 71 minutes to play alongside Adebayor and within seconds of the change the Gunners were 2-0 up through Flamini.

The Frenchman, who has been one of Arsenal's best players this season, hit a thunderous 20-yard drive that winged its way into the top right corner of the net.

Keegan threw on Shola Ameobi to play up top alongside a very quiet Michael Owen, with Alan Smith operating behind the pair.

But the three points were secured in the 80th minute when Bendtner controlled a long free-kick into the Newcastle area before teeing up Fabregas to shoot past a stranded Given.

The Spaniard will have been disappointed with his effort six minutes earlier though when he blazed his shot over the bar from inside the area when Hleb had set him up with the goal begging to be breached.Manuel Almunia was forced into his first save of the game in the 88th minute when he got a finger-tip to a Nicky Butt free-kick to parry the ball on to the bar.

Then within two minutes he was called into action again, getting down well to deny Ameobi as the visitors ended with a flourish.

Live Commentary

90
FULL TIME: There wasn't much of a sign of any improvement at Newcastle tonight, but in all fairness they were up against a rampant Arsenal side who earned their second 3-0 victory over the Magpies in four days.

90
The fourth official indicates three minutes of added time.

89
Arsenal counter attack but the final shot is sent into row Z by Bendtner.

88
Nicky Butt strikes the free-kick and it cannons back off the post before Gallas knocks the ball out for a corner.

87
Newcastle have a free-kick in a decent position and they have three options surrounding the ball.

85
Hleb is picked out on the edge of the boxand he finds Fabregas, who drags his shot wide of the target and should have made it 4-0.

83
It does not seem that Newcastle will get their first goal under Keegan, or their first league goal in 2008 at the Emirates tonight and it will be a long journey home for the travelling fans.

80
The last thing Newcastle want to see now is Theo Walcott taking the field, but he does so and takes Adebayor's place up-front.

79
Cacapa is cautioned for showing dissent.

78
ARSENAL 3 - 0 NEWCASTLE: Bendtner springs the offside trap and lays the ball off for FABREGAS inside the box, and the midfielder thrashes the ball past Given

75
Wenger makes another change, with Abou Diaby making way for Gilberto Silva

73
Kevin Keegan immediatly changes things round and replaces James Milner with Shola Ameobi

73
Duff hits an ambitious effort from outside the box and fails to trouble Almunia.

72
Michael Owen is booked for arguing with the officials.

72
ARSENAL 2 - 0 NEWCASTLE: FLAMINI turns on the ball and strikes a magnificent shot into the far corner from 25-yards. Given was nowhere near it and the midfielder thoroughly deserves the goal after a man-of-the-match performance.

71
Arsenal are on course to leapfrogging Man United in the table at the moment but it doesn't seem like they are going to rest until they put the game beyond doubt.

70
Arsene Wenger makes his first change of the game as Eduardo leaves the field for Nicklas Bendtner

67
Adebayor picks up the ball and bursts into the box before picking out Flamini on the edge of the box, who forces a fine save out of Given.

65
Newcastle are looking creaky at the back every time Arsenal sweep forward and it seems it will only be a matter of time before they notch a second

63
Flamini links-up with Adebayor and is set up for a clear chance on goal before N'Zogbia gets a boot to the ball to hack it away from danger.

61
Carr intercepts a dangerous cross towards Adebayor and Given rushes out to pluck the ball out of the air.

60
Fabregas takes an out-swinging corner, but fails to find a team-mate and Newcastle regain possession.

58
Milner gets into a good position and tries to pick out Smith inside the box, but his cross is a fraction too far ahead of him and the ball bounces harmlessly behind for a goal-kick.

56
Joey Barton, who has missed the last 8 games for Newcastle, takes the field to jeers from around the stadium. He replaces David Rozehnal

55
Flamini has a wild swing at a bouncing ball and slices his shot wide, almost hitting the corner flag.

54
Diaby gets a yard on Nicky Butt and tries his luck from outside the box, but sends the ball into the stand behind the goal.

53
Adebayor chests the ball down and hits a shot on the turn but fails to connect properly and the ball dribbles through to Given.

52
Milner is seeing a lot of the ball at the moment and is linking up with his strikers, but the visitors are still yet to work Almunia.

50
Eduardo goes down theatrically and holding his face after losing out in a battle for the ball against Claudio Cacapa

49
N'Zogbia's dangerous cross fizzes across the Arsenal penalty area but fails to find a fellow black and white shirt.

47
Diaby lets fly from range and his left-footed shot sails high and wide of the target.

45
The second-half is underway and neither manager has made any changes yet, though Joey Barton was on the pitch warming up during the interval.

45
HALF TIME: Arsenal always looked the most dangerous in a quiet first-half and it will be a test of character for the visitors after the break.

44
Owen gets through the Arsenal back-line for the first time, but Manuel Almunia is quick off his line to smother the ball.

42
Arsenal go in search of another goal but Sagna's cross is headed clear by Taylor.

40
ARSENAL 1 - 0 NEWCASTLE: Mathieu Flamini shows good work down the right flank before he picks out ADEBAYOR with an inviting cross, and the striker firmly heads home from three-yards.

39
The Arsenal players are furious as Mike Riley stops play for a free-kick when it appeared they had a good advantage.

38
The ball falls kindly for Adebayor and he strikes a sweet shot at goal, but again fails to trouble Given.

35
N'Zogbia is cautioned for a rash challenge on Bacary Sagna

33
Arsenal appeal for a penalty as the ball strikes Charles N'Zogbia, but Mike Riley says no handball and waves away the protests.

31
Steven Carr has a difficult cross to deal with and almost puts the ball in the back of his own net

29
Michael Owen is through on goal but is pulled back for offside. The striker has some games under his belt now but needs to be seeing more of the ball if he is to start netting some goals.

27
Adebayor is looking sharp and gets another shot away but Taylor gets in the way and deflects the ball out for a corner.

25
The final ball is letting both sides down at the moment but it is Arsenal who look the most dangerous.

23
The game has started very much like Saturday's FA Cup tie and Arsenal are seeing a lot of the ball.

22
Adebayor gets a shot away on the edge of the box but it is blocked by a Newcastle defender.

19
Hleb goes in late on Michael Owen and earns himself the first booking of the game.

18
Hleb and Fabregas link-up on the right flank but instead of getting an early cross into the danger area, try to be too intricate and eventually lose possession.

16
Alex Hleb and Diaby play a long one-two before Hleb plants a curling cross onto Diaby's head, but he sends the ball over the crossbar

14
James Milner gets behind the Arsenal defence but is pulled back for offside.

12
Da Silva Eduardo gets tothe byline and tries to pick out a team-mate with a cross, but Taylor clears danger with a strong header.

10
Newcastle hit a long piercing ball forward, but it is too far ahead of Michael Owen and Manuel Almunia restarts play.

9
Play stops for a few moments as Vassiriki Abou Diaby receives treatment for an injury, but eventually gets back on his feet and looks OK to continue.

7
Cesc Fabregas runs into a decent position and has players available in the box, but Steven Taylor gets across to put in a strong challenge

6
It has been a chess-match start to the game and with both managers fielding 4-4-2 formations it will be interesting to see how the players match up

4
Damien Duff cuts inside from the left flank and hits a low shot into a crowd of bodies, one of which clears the ball out for a Newcastle throw-in.

2
A long ball from Gael Clichy finds the in-form Emmanuel Adebayor in a good position, but he mis-controls the ball and it runs through to Shay Given.

0
Dennis Wise has been spotted inside an executive box for tonight's game, which is Newcastle's second trip to the Emirates in four days.

0
Referee Mike Riley gets the game underway with Arsenal kicking-off.

0
ARSENAL STARTING XI: Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Senderos, Clichy, Diaby, Fabregas, Flamini, Hleb, Adebayor, Eduardo. SUBS: Lehmann, Silva, Bendtner, Justin Hoyte, Walcott

0
NEWCASTLE STARTING XI: Given, Carr, Taylor, Cacapa, N'Zogbia, Milner, Butt, Rozehnal, Duff, Smith, Owen. SUBS: Harper, Barton, Ameobi, Edgar, LuaLua

0
If Arsenal win tonight they could go three points ahead of Manchester United at the top of the table but Newcastle, still without a goal or a win under Kevin Keegan are in desperate need for points.

Statistics

Arsenal

Shots on target	4
Shots off target	6
Shots off bar/post	0
Fouls	11
Offsides	1
Corners	4

Newcastle United

Shots on target	3
Shots off target	3
Shots off bar/post	1
Fouls	15
Offsides	8
Corners	2

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