Newcastle 0 Arsenal 0: No goals but another fine performance

Vieira and Jenas in action

The third tier at St James’ Park is a knackering 140+ steps up from the base camp turnstiles and although no oxygen is supplied at the summit there is a very welcome bar. From the bar the views are quite impressive but it was more fun to watch a car full of Geordies reverse into a lamppost in an almost empty car park. Funnier still was being asked the way to the ground by a family bedecked in black and white but who were obviously not regulars. We started with Rob and Dennis on the bench alongside Gael, Martin and Rami. Wiltord, Henry and Reyes all started, so it was Arsene’s usual positive approach at a ground that had seen an impressive sequence of straight home wins for the men in black and white. There is nowhere we go now where Arsenal do anything other than look for three points, there is also nowhere we go where we don’t believe we’re capable of getting them.

As much as I admire the belligerent Alan Shearer his sole intention today appeared to be to win free kicks. United’s set plays seemed to be their main hope along with long balls out down the flanks. From our view high above the pitch in the North West Corner Stand it is very much like watching a game of Subuteo and the patterns of play are more obvious than from pitch side. There was a time, not that many years ago when Arsenal were tediously predictable in their build up. Not any more, the neat triangular passes are knocked about all over the place in a never ending variation of movement that is as likely to see a full back storming the centre forward position as it is to see a central midfield player tearing down the wing.

Shearer gave Kolo an early shove but our young superstar from the Ivory Coast fears no one and gives not an inch to any big names he happens to be up against. I understand that Sky gave man of the match to Jonathon Woodgate, and I wouldn’t argue with that but it could easily have gone to Sol or Kolo because it was the defences that dominated in this game.

An early Bellamy shot was well saved by Jens but the concern was that the assistant refs were letting offsides go, as when Shearer broke and found Bellamy whose shot was saved well by Lehmann at the expense of a corner. Jens tipped the corner away which excited the Geordies as their team pressed. Shearer pulled a shot wide. A fine ball from Woodgate to Bellamy on their left flank typified their long ball game. This wasn’t one way traffic however because Henry to Reyes and some brilliant stuff from Cole gave Edu the chance to find Thierry.

Once more Vieira was targeted for numerous hits as when Shearer went in late, but referee Paul Durkin was in minimal cards mode in a match that was tough but never dirty. No one flinched from a 40-60 tackle, there was a lot of big hits to get the crowd wound up, but nothing malicious, just good old English League style contact. Jens was out well. We were working it around nicely now and the flowing football was emerging. With Gilberto in the holding role Pat had greater leave to cause damage upfield and close defenders, which he did to marvellous effect. Pat looked amazingly pretty fresh considering and had another immense match, how he stays so much above the level of play almost every game is one of the miracles of the modern Arsenal.

A striped shirt made a late tackle on Cole but it’s nearly impossible to pick out the Magpies shirt numbers just below cloud level so I couldn’t tell you who it was. The game had swung to Arsenal as the Gooners questioned ‘Where is your famous atmosphere’ ‘One team in Europe’ from the Toon was riposted with ‘Channel Five’. Wiltord and Henry went on a chase at one end while Lehmann punched clear at the other. Reyes set up Henry on the break and his shot whistled the wrong side of the post. Wiltord then broke and we had a sustained spell of pressure before Newcastle hit the long ball once more to earn a corner. One Arsenal break that was unlucky was when Edu had a through ball cut out by a hand we won the free kick but there was no card.

The lino flagged for a Newcastle back pas to Henry as the Gunners chanted ‘Stand up if you’ve won the League’. Another Arsenal move ended with a headed clearance and a Henry corner was also headed clear. Henry to Wiltord, almost. I’ve not had much time for Wiltord since he refused to sign a new contract, neither would it appear has Wenger, but he did well for his first match back, even making the occasional tight turn. Speed shot wide from range and later obstructed Edu on a run. Cole to Henry and play was worked right for a Lauren cross. Lauren has had his critics this season but is looking like a solid part of a back four that has the best defensive record in the division. He may not quite match Dixon as a defender, then again few do, but he looks great on the ball going forward. Just what more is required of him by the moaners?

Henry shoots from a tight angle

‘ArseneWengersRedArmy’ Henry shot wide at one end and Bellamy was called offside at the other. Good Arsenal pressure followed with a sustained spell of attacking football including a move where Edu got Reyes in for an Angled shot that went wide. A Henry run saw him fire past the post with his left foot and we followed that with some more good stuff down our right. A, by now, rare Newcastle counter saw a cross come in straight to Jens. Woodgate stood his ground well against Reyes. An alleged foul by Cole on Bellamy was not seen by the lino next to them but was miraculously spotted by Durkin from the other side of the pitch. Vieira was taken out from behind by Jenas who made little impression other than in this instance. Some long one-twos by Reyes and Henry nearly worked but the chance of the half came when Henry found Wiltord after someone failed to cut it out but Sylvain scuffed it wide with his left footed apology for a shot.

A brilliant cut out by Kolo who jumped high to kick clear. The one-minute added time further emphasised our superiority as we broke left. Both defences had been strong but there looked to be one team playing vastly superior football, not that that always wins us the match. Nil-nil at the break.

Time to admire the views across a Northeast skyline that was for once not blowing a gale and far warmer than on recent previous visits.

The first trip of the second half was on Reyes who was as lively as ever. I do think however that he alters our pattern of play and with him and Henry playing up front our midfield men seem to get forward less often, time will tell. Gilberto tripped Bernard on a run but Robert could only find our wall from the free kick. Bellamy looked miles offside from a ball that found him in space but he completely missed his kick to much derision from those Gooners looking down on him in every sense of the word.

Pat won a good tackle but it was pulled back for a free kick against Silva. Robert’s shot this time got through low but was saved well by Jens. Pat went for a power run down our left and passed inside for Jose who might have done better as he took it on. Cole went down after a battering from Speed, I think. Kolo cut one out, and then Shearer shoved Sol out the way but won a free kick anyway. It was Edu’s turn to head it clear. Henry to Wiltord who played a brilliant ball to Reyes. Cole looked hurt. Lehmann took a battering but it’s ok to clatter keepers if they are German so the Gherkin played on.

Reyes and Henry beat the offside trap but although Henry rounded Given he took it too far to slot his acute angled shot home, Reyes was open however.

We followed up with a Reyes, Henry to Wiltord move that gave Jose the chance to take another corner. Bernard took a dive after Arsenal had been scrambling in the box. The lino and ref exchanged words and Lauren and Bellamy were called across for some words of wisdom. Fancy Bellamy taking on the role of niggly little git, quelle surprise! Bellamy then did well however to find Bernard inside with a clever pass but the shot was a lame one into the side netting.

Shearer shoved Sol once again and we were awarded a free kick to much ironic applause from the Gooners. Vieira’s solo pressure job won us another corner; he was still turning up here, there and everywhere. Henry to Reyes who did well down our right. Reyes shot from range but it lacked power. Pat then did brilliantly down our right in another good move. Kolo blocked a Robert shot. Next up was Henry’s cross from the right which was inch perfect for Reyes who could only head straight at the keeper, a golden opportunity missed. Henry who I though had started to tire then proved me wrong when he engaged the turbo, fell, got up, carried on and fired off a shot.

Ashley Cole leaves the field with a nasty ankle injury

Robert and Jenas were replaced by Bowyer and Viana in time for a tense last ten minutes or so. Arsenal’s substitutions, made at the same time, were Pires and Bergkamp for Reyes and Wiltord. Edu, Dennis and Thierry were all involved in another neat move. Pires nearly squeezed through. Bellamy had a half chance from an angle that he fired over. A long ball to Henry from Cole resulted in more pressure on Toon and a back pass out for an Arsenal corner. A twenty-pass knock about saw Arsenal imposing control and probably settling for a point but not before Vieira picked up a booking for what looked like an argument with the Gherkin.

Jens made a good take under pressure but didn’t rate Shearer’s raised elbows and the pair of them were at it. I swear Jens gets a buzz out of a bit of a barny with the opposition and positively relishes the crowd booing his every touch. Shearer shoved Gilberto, and Cole was fouled yet again, both won free kicks but Cole stayed down, and this time he was replaced by Clichy. The ever-sporting Toon Army booed him all the way on his long limp to the far touchline. Two minutes added time and a brilliant first touch from Gael under pressure saw us go back upfield to win another corner. Pires fired it in and Toure headed wide. Another chance to tie up three points gone begging.

I enjoyed the game for the good old English League battle it was, played at speed and generally without malice or nastiness. Two big clubs who respect each other for what they are. Another point and we appear to be ever closer to the ultimate goal. Surely now it is a case of where and when rather than a question of whether we are able.

Our record breaking run thus continues to go on and on, it’s still worthy of a mention so I’m going to mention it yet again. It started back against Everton and continues with Boro, Villa, Manchester City, Pompey, Manure on St Keown’s day, the Newkie Broons, Pool, Bluescum, Charlton, Leeds, Scum, Brum, one f in Fulham, and Leicester, Blackburn, Bolton, Wolves, Saints, Everton again, Boro again and again, Villa, the real Mancs, wobbly Wolves, Saints, Chelsea Charlton, Blackburn, Bolton, Manure, Red Scousers and the Toon Army. Can we go the whole way? Who knows, but I hope to be there for the remainder of the season to find out.