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There goes the final whistle at the end of a torrid afternoon for Kevin Keegan in which Arsenal dominated hi side form start to finish with Van Persie the star of the show with two first half goals.
Samir Nasri is on the receiving end of a fair but feisty tackle from Barton and then exacts revenge with an impetuous trip on the midfielder and is booked.
Has a substitute ever been booed as much as this? Joey Barton is greeted by the jeers of the crowd as he replaces Jonas Gutierrez, Habib Beye is also replaced by David Edgar.
Why does Adebayor not shoot?! Four on one for Arsenal but when it opens up for the Togolese he slides the ball wide to Walcott who has a more difficult chance and he can't get it on target.
It really has been a stroll for Arsenal today and they have clicked into some sort of gear for the first time this season - a dangerous sign for the rest.
Adebayor is running dangerously at Taylor once more and he is felled by the centre back and Nasri curls the free-kick towards the top corner but Given again denies him.
Arsenal are playing keep ball again at the moment and attacking when they feel like they might be able to force an opening - Newcaslte have definitely given up on the game now.
It should be 4-0 now! Newcaslte fall completely asleep at the corner and Sagna gets room to cross for Toure who arrives totally unmarked but his header hits Shay Given on the line.
Impact from Walcott immediately as he uses his pace to trouble the defence before neatly flicking the ball back for Vela whose shot is deflected wide.
Arsene Wenger is making his final change of the evening now as Theo Walcott enters the arena in place of Emmanuel Eboue.
You can always tell a team is comfortable when the left-back runs half the length of the field and lets fly from 30 yards - well that's what Gael Clichy has just done and Given had to save it.
Arsenal are making a change and Denilson - who grabbed his first Premier League goal a few minutes ago - is replaced by Alex Song.
Newcastle had been showing signs of a comeback but that third goal has really taken the wind out of their sails and now it seems a case of how many Arsenal will score today.
Van Persie has now picked up a slight knock and is going to be replaced by young Carlos Vela who they have high hopes for here.
And so nearly 4-0 as the ball ricochets to Van Persie at an impossible angle but he still fires the ball goalwards and it glances the underside of the bar as it deflects away - almost brilliant.
Lovely football from Arsenal and a scintillating move involving Van Persie, Fabregas and Adebayor sees a rampaging Denilson break into the box to slot past Given and now its 3-0.
Nicky Butt almost gets Newcastle in the game for the first time really as he glances the corner over Almunia and Clichy on the line but it comes back of the cross bar - a warning for the hosts and Keegan's team are starting to rally.
Normal service is resumed for Rob Styles as he ignores Arsenal calls for a free-kick and is promptly booed by the majority of the crowd - its good to know the world has not gone mad I suppose.
Shay Given is also booked - for violating the RESPECT initiative as he runs from his goal to demand action on Fabregas. A needless booking and the referee gets a substantial cheer.
Fabregas goes in late on Habib Beye with a sliding challenge that was slightly uncalled for really as he was going nowhere and he is rightly booked.
Arsenal's fans think they have another penalty but Clichy is actually offside so it has not been given.
Immediately there is concern for Robin Van Persie as Butt stands on his ankle - accidentally - and the Dutchman stays down.
The second period is underway and Newcastle need to do something quickly otherwise this could quickly become embarassing - it appears though that they are going to go with three at the back now.
HT:Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle: It has been a stroll in the park for Arsenal who could and should have more than the two goals from Van Persie and Keegan has nothing really on the bench to change the game.
Michael Owen almost gets Newcastle back in the game as he is left free in the box but his header is a fraction over the bar - poor defending from Gallas.
Sebastien Bassong is going to have to enter the fray now as Jose Enrique is forced off with a hamstring injury - it goes from bad to worse for Keegan and co.
That should secure the game! Eboue and Adebayor work the ball well before the Ivorian delivers a lovely backheel into Van Persie who makes it 2-0 to Arsenal.
And in the blink of an eye Arsenal almost double their advantage - in fact they should have done. Adebayor and Van Persie combine beautifully and the Togolese is in on Given but only slides wide.
What a chance wasted! Gutierrez ties Clichy in knots and spots Owen at the far post but as he comes onto it Ameobi turns and ends up in the way and deflects it wide of the post.
Newcastle are performing far below the level of their first two games so far but Arsenal have definitely stepped their game up a few notches.
Good goalkeeping from Given! Van Persie - who seems to be involved in everything - tried to bend the free-kick into the top corner and would have succeeded but for the Irishman.
Frustration levels are growing for the visitors and, as Van Persie is felled by Beye, Kevin Keegan rushes out of his dugout to blast a few choice words at referee Styles.
Not so good now as Adebayor bursts through the middle and is chopped down in the 'D' but Coloccini who is booked.
Super defending from Coloccini as Nasri escapes down the left and tries a delicate ball with the outside of his foot for Adebayor but the Argentine gets a crucial touch to deflect it away.
The crowd and the home players are a lot more settled now, the frustration was clearly growing but now they have the lead it looks to be a long way back already for the Toon.
Kevin Keegan is not happy with the way his side have started and rightly so, he is also angry about the penalty decision but when he sees it back he should have no complaints.
Superb penalty from Van Persie as he blasts past Given into the bottom corner. Just rewards for Arsenal and the Gunners lead 1-0.
Handball! Penalty! Adebayor looks to cross from the right but N'Zogbia's arm is out-stretched and the referee awards a penalty kick.
For the first time the visitors start to get into a few tackles and put pressure on the player in possession - Van Persie eventually gets a shot off but the last few minutes have been better from Newcastle.
Denilson's passing came in for heavy criticism at Fulham a week ago and he has started today in very similar fashion as he seems to be the one who causes the Gunners attacks to break down.
If this carries on much longer then Newcastle are going to be knackered before half time as they are still chasing shadows all over the pitch.
To say Arsenal are on top would be an understatement! Kolo Toure goes close Shay Given has touched the leather sphere that Arsenal have made their own already more than any other Newcastle player as he tips wide.
Miss of the season! The voting should stop now as William Gallas arrives at the far post and somehow blazes the ball well over from just 2 yards out - a let off for the Magpies.
Already the home side are in control and Fabregas shows why they have missed him with a delightful reverse ball in for Van Persie but Coloccini arrives with a well timed challenge and its only a corner - good decision.
Rob Styles is the match official tonight and he gets things underway with Newcastle kicking off.
Newcastle: Given, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Taylor, Gutierrez, Guthrie, Butt, Beye, N'Zogbia, Owen, Ameobi
Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Eboue, Fabregas, Denilson, Nasri, Adebayor, Van Persie
Interesting news from the Newcastle team sheet as Shola Ameobi starts alongside Michael Owen, while Charles N'Zogbia's lengthy stint at left-back appears to be over with Milner's departure as he moves to the left wing.
Great news for all Gunners fans - not so for the Toon Army - as Cesc Fabregas returns in the centre of midfield, although Theo Walcott is the one to make way as Emmanuel Eboue moves out to the right.
Arsenal struggled to assert their authority over Fulham in a disappointing 1-0 defeat at the Cottage last weekend and will be looking to follow up an impressive Champions League qualifying win with more success here.
Summer has finally arrived - for a day at least - and for once the sun is shining on Newcastle United, although the departure of James Milner will hurt, Michael Owen is back and in the goals.
Welcome to the Emirates Stadium where Newcastle visit Arsenal in today's evening game.
A rampant Arsenal demonstrated their title credentials with a convincing 3-0 win over Newcastle United that greatly flattered Kevin Keegan's side. Arsene Wenger's charges were at their free-flowing best, the perfect tonic to the disappointment of last week's defeat to Fulham. Newcastle arrived at the Emirates Stadium hopeful of topping the table with a victory over under-pressure Arsenal, but the Gunners were reading from a different script. Within seconds of the opening whistle the Gunners had a good claim for a penalty when Robin Van Persie was hacked down on two minutes. William Gallas should have made sure just 60 seconds later when he met a Robin Van Persie cross from just six yards out, but his right-foot shot flew high over the bar. The Gunners did however take the lead after 17 minutes when Charles N'Zogbia handled inside the area. Up stepped Van Persie to drill the spot-kick left-footed into the right side of the goal. The goal gave Arsenal the confidence boost they needed to slot into their free-flowing football to keep the visitors pegged back. Cesc Fabregas, starting his first league game of the season, was beginning to find his passing range. Van Persie was usually the target as the Dutchman terrorised Keegan's side. Samir Nasri was also making a nuisance of himself on the left flank, running at will at the flat-footed and bemused Newcastle defence. In one such move the Frenchman found the Dutch striker, who danced his way past three defenders before being hauled down. Van Persie sent a goalbound free-kick toward the top left corner, but Shay Given somehow stretched every sinew to keep the ball out. Michael Owen should have levelled the scores on 37 minutes when teed up in front of goal, but the England striker pulled his shot wide from just 12 yards out. The Gunners looked certain of doubling their lead a minute later when Emmanuel Adebayor had possession in front of goal, but somehow dragged his effort wide of the left post when it would have been easier to score. The second goal did eventually come on 41 minutes following a slick move that began on the right flank with Adebayor, who fed Emmanuel Eboue running in behind. The Ivorian midfielder cleverly back-heeled the ball towards Van Persie, who ran into the box and fired into the roof of the net with his right foot. Arsenal had Manuel Almunia to thank in first-half injury time when the Spanish keeper tipped over Owen's looping header in spectacular fashion. Newcastle went close on 56 minutes when Nicky Butt's backwards flicked header from N'Zogbia's corner to the near post looped over Almunia but cannoned off the top of the Gunners bar. Almunia was called into action just seconds later when he dived to his right to gather Danny Guthrie's 20-yard drive. The Gunners went 3-0 up on 59 minutes when Denilson finished a clever move that was begun by Nasri, who intelligently found the youngster who swapped passes with Adebayor before directing his shot past a flat-footed Given. Van Persie almost completed his hat-trick in fabulous fashion when his left-foot shot from the acutest of angle hit the underside of the bar before bouncing away to safety. That was the last kick of the game for the Dutchman who injured himself in the process. Gael Clichy tested Given with a curling 25-yard effort in the 70th minute, but the Newcastle keeper kept a keen eye on the viciously swerving ball. Given was again in the right place at the right time to block Kolo Toure's close-range headed effort as the Gunners looked to add to their tally. Given was being worked hard by the Gunners, but he was up to the task in a busy period around the 80th minute when he saved Nasri's curling free-kick and then denied the lively Carlos Vela twice from close range. Theo Walcott should have made it 4-0 in the 86th minute after being set up by Adebayor, but he fired his shot wide of the right post under pressure from Given.
Corners
Fouls
Goal attempts
Shots off target
Offsides
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