Newcastle United – Arsenal

1. Live commentary will appear here from 1730BST.

2. In the meantime, Arsenal fans can read James Dall's season preview <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story/_/id/941845/faith-in-wenger-fading?cc=5739">here</a> while Newcastle fans can watch a video interview with Alan Pardew <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/942800/alan-pardew-unsure-if-joey-barton-will-face-arsenal?cc=5739">here</a>.

3. <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2011/0813/arsenewengertraininglookingdown20110805_275x155.jpg">

4. Arsenal's summer of speculation can be forgotten if they start with a win at Newcastle. A new era in a post-Cesc and post-Samir world for them. Join me, John Brewin - and you can even Tweet me @JohnBrewinESPN if you see fit.

5. A new look to both teams, as Gervinho takes his place for Arsenal alongside forgotten man Rosicky, while a lack of Nolan and Enrique offers us Cabaye and another lesser spotted player in Ryan Taylor to fill in for the departed.

6. Carlos Tevez may well be looking on, if the summer's silliest yet possible rumour has it. Get him and my £2 on Arsenal to win the league could be on.

7. Rebecca Lowe has spoken, the players can take the pitch and it's Howay the Lads as Local Hero rings out.

8. Joey Barton can abandon his Nietzche and Orwell primers for 90 minutes as he takes his place.

9. Peter Walton gets us underway with a hearty peep of his whistle....

10. The roar goes up as Tiote charges forward, his pass is loose and it abates.

11. 1'

    Early attack from Arsenal. Gervinho gets an early yet unconvincing touch, Rosicky shoots wide with his sidefoot.

12. 2'

    Gervinho plays in Sagna but his cross is blocked and cleared.

13. 2'

    Arsenal in a familiar rhythm yet with a lack of Nasri, Cesc and Wilshere they look unfamiliar.

14. 3'

    Wenger looks almost glad to be getting on the with the football. It's not time for his puffer jacket/sleeping bag just yet.

15. 4'

    Free-kick to Arsenal, Barton's deliverry is poor and it's cleared. Ball goes back in and Sagna feels the weight of Steven Taylor's heft.

16. 5'

    Thomas Vermaelen seems to have a problem, which is a poor show for Arsenal. He was missed terribly last year. Sagna is recovered though.

17. 6'

    Gibbs cuts out a pass aimed at Barton, and Gervinho sets off. Van Persie lurked but then Taylor cleans out the danger.

18. 7'

    Shola heads on a loping run, and falls over. Vain calls for a penalty but he was neither fouled nor anywhere near the 18-yard box.

19. 8'

    Simpson lashes away a cross. He had few Arsenal players around him. They are back to their old tricks.

20. 9'

    Another cross is aimed into the Toon box. It's aimed at no Gunners, because none of them are in the box.

21. 10'

    Ameobi offside from a crisp and brisk Barton first-time ball.

22. 12'

    Danny Simpson looks well inked after the summer which looks lucrative for his tattooist.

23. 12'

    Rosicky busy, Arshavin appears on the scene, but then Colocinni steps in. Plenty of flickering creativity from Arsenal, and plenty of possession too.

24. 13'

    Krul has to clear, and his kick was not convincing but Arsenal didn't press too hard on him.

25. 14'

    All a bit tippy-tappy from Arsenal. They miss the surge of Cesc.

26. 15'

    Gervinho's pass is poor. Colocinni lumbers forward, Danny Simpson on the overlap crosses and Wojciech Szcz&#281;sny claims.

27. 16'

    Sagna to Gervinho who finds space, ball comes to Van Persie after Taylor errs. Right foot shot drifts behind. Corner.

28. 17'

    Arsenal patient where their fans are not.

29. 20'

    Gervinho with another surge but his pass is again not enough. Colocinni clears. Composure would surely mean an Arsenal goal.

30. 21'

    Free-kick for a push on Ba. Barton's kick is looped and easy for Szczesny who still decides to punch.

31. 21'

    Barton raises the hackles with a tackle on Gibbs. Jonas gets on the end of a cross from Simpson and directs his shot wide. Newcastle's best of the half.

32. 23'

    It is difficult to believe Arshavin is still a Gunner but he is. He has rarely touched the ball. Gervinho meanwhile has been very busy and impressive.

33. 24'

    Barton fouled. His haircut is sharp, and some of his play has been too.

34. 25'

    This is not a game blessed with a fervent atmosphere.

35. 26'

    Shola Ameobi's pass would have found Demba Ba in the clear. It was blocked.

36. 27'

    Jonas ball in. Ramsey is back to clear it.

37. 28'

    "How long before Walcott is brought on for arshavin?," asks Ross Ginter. Who's to say that Oxlade is not the man.

38. 28'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Song booked for a foul on Demba Ba/

39. 29'

    Ryan Taylor's free-kick causes an element of panic but Szczesny clears.

40. 30'

    Barton concedes a corner. Rosicky takes. Krul was unconvincing as Koscielny came in. Ball hacked clear.

41. 31'

    Free-kick to Arsenal, Van Persie with the honour and Tiote slices behind.

42. 32'

    Newcastle corner as Koscielny heads behind. Cabaye takes this.

43. 33'

    Van Persie does well on defensive duties. Ryan Taylor loops in a cross that veers goalward but eventually wide.

44. 34'

    Krul claims when Van Persie is the target for a cross. Not enough numbers forward for either side.

45. 34'

    Rosicky's ball is poor. Arsenal looking flat now. Perhaps Theo is the answer.

46. 35'

    The mohican looks to be the haircut du nos jours. Tiote has a fine effort, Barton has a nice fringe on his after Raul Mereiles' early tour de force.

47. 37'

    Van Persie was in space but ran into heavy traffic. The moans continue from Arsenal fans. Neither set of supporter is hardly brimming with excitement or optimism.

48. 37'

    Arshavin reappears, but his final ball is poor and Krul is calm and collected.

49. 39'

    A ball from Song to Gibbs asks much, in fact it asks him to equal Usain Bolt's landspeed record.

50. 40'

    Ba is blocked off by a fine Vermaelen tackle. The Verminator has seemingly recovered from that early scare.

51. 41'

    Arsenal attacking in waves, yet still not convincingly. Arshavin's ball is cut out by Colocinni.

52. 42'

    Van Persie fails to control the ball when he fancied his left over his right. A chance begging.

53. 43'

    Cabaye's cross is punched clear by Szczesny. Barton wins a foul. Free-kick.

54. 44'

    Ryan Taylor will take this. And smashes into the wall. That was woeful.

55. 45'

    Sterility rules here. Two added minutes of tedium to come.

56. 45'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Gervinho's burst is promising and Colocinni fouls him. Perhaps harsh.

57. 45'

    Obertan looks imminent for the second half. Newcastle fans must be licking their lips as their new hero is soon to take his bow. His first kick for Manchester United was a miskick.

58. 45'

    We shall wait for a second half which must do better. That was end-of-season fare on opening day.

59. 45'

    Here's some advice from Twitter. Jack Wilshere: "Need to get theo on and attacking the full backs!" His manager must be most pleased to be able to call on such advice.

60. 45'

    Obertan is on on on. Here comes a supernova. Demba Ba off, oddly.

61. 46'

    He is heading for a central role not offered to him at Manchester United. We are back underway.

62. 47'

    Newcastle play a passing game lesser spotted in the first half before Cabaye surges to force what he thinks is a corner when in fact the last touch came off him.

63. 47'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Kieran Gibbs for a loose foul on Joey Barton.

64. 48'

    Ramsey fouls Jonas, Newcastle do look more up for it already.

65. 48'

    Gervinho is on the run but outnumbered and rather gets caught under his own feet.

66. 49'

    Ryan Taylor heads behind when failing to find his keeper with a nod.

67. 50'

    Rosicky's burst and then Gervinho piles forward before Steven Taylor does well, as he has done for much of the match.

68. 51'

    Ameobi's flick to Obertan is intercepted and Arsenal are starting to pile on pressure. Sagna fouled by Jonas. Free kick.

69. 53'

    Van Persie takes and loops and curls it goalward, but just over the bar. A shame. That passed for genuine excitement.

70. 55'

    Pardew is having a rant. Something better change.

71. 56'

    Newcastle's attack wakes up but is thwarted by repeated headers.

72. 57'

    Their fans have woken up too. Arsenal play a possession game now. Van Persie is baulked by Colocinni and Taylor. No penalty.

73. 58'

    Barton rages. He was clearly stood on by Song, who is on a yellow card. That was deliberate and should have been a sending off. No need for that whatsoever.

74. 59'

    Barton tells the fourth official to get involved. Instead, that man will offer Theo Walcott on. For Arshavin, we think.

75. 60'

    Obertan's flick nearly gets Cabayae in but the ball is smuggled clear.

76. 60'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Confirmed: Walcott for the Russian dissident.

77. 61'

    Steven Taylor stops Walcott's burst with a fine interception.

78. 62'

    Walcott is wasteful when swinging his left boot at the ball for no reason in particular.

79. 64'

    Arsenal looking more likely since Walcott's arrival but they do look lacking in the final third, an idea enhanced by Sagna's awful shot.

80. 65'

    Well done, Obertan. Nice bit of determination to keep the ball in. Cabaye stopped at the last. Crowd roar on the new Frenchmen.

81. 66'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> As sure as eggs is eggs and Kieron Dyer is injured, Tiote gets a booking.

82. 67'

    Gervinho escapes on the right but his ball is a waste. Again. That needs to be worked on or else his other qualities, of which there are many, will be forgotten.

83. 68'

    Still an air of listlessness here. Arsenal lack a final ball, Newcastle lack the ball.

84. 68'

    Cabaye gets space to run but his ball is an Arsenal one, and is intercepted.

85. 69'

    Will we have a taste of Oxlade soup? Gervinho again surges but again does not find a red shirt. He gets a corner instead.

86. 70'

    Gervinho falls to his feet after yet another poor pass. He's lively but lacking in composure.

87. 72'

    Long ball for Obertan but his large forehead is not enough to get there.

88. 72'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Leon Best on for Shola Ameobi.

89. 73'

    A period of slow possession for Arsenal.

90. 73'

    Cabaye's pass is excellent and Kosielny is forced into a hurried clearance.

91. 73'

    MAYHEM: Barton gets involved after a Gervinho dive, that was clear. Fists fly.

92. 73'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/red_card.jpg" height="15"> Gervinho off.

93. 73'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Barton, after some delay gets a yellow.

94. 74'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> G Wojciech Szcz&#281;sny is booked.

95. 75'

    The upshot of that is that Barton got involved when Gervinho tried to win a penalty. Barton then feigned a punch as his partner in crime Steven Taylor also claimed an elbow. Poor show from both. Gervinho is a little unfortunate but nevertheless was silly.

96. 77'

    Joey Barton: We await his tweets with interest, or do we?

97. 79'

    Barton and Taylor are just as guilty as Gervinho, though if truth were told then at least we have a story to tell of a pallid game.

98. 79'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Lovenkrands to come on for Cabaye who has played well.

99. 80'

    Barton to see out the 90, perhaps?

100. 81'

     Barton smashes goalward. Just wide. Now that would have been a story.

101. 81'

     Heading contest results in Krul claiming the ball. Tiote goes down heavily after a tackle. And looks in some pain. Cramp is the suggestion.

102. 82'

     Barton continues to rage, while Wenger looks aghast, a face we are all too familiar with.

103. 82'

     Barton and Song are now frotting each other in friendship. This is an odd game.

104. 83'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Frimpong, sporting the de rigeur mohawk, on for Rosicky, who has done quite well today.

105. 86'

     Walcott on the run as a rare break into football. He gets nowhere, the story of the day.

106. 86'

     Meanwhile, we should be building to a crescendo but are not. 0-0 beckons, with a tawdry tale of gamesmanship as our lead item from this game.

107. 87'

     Walcott's touch let him down, Wenger rages on the bench. We will be seeing plenty of that.

108. 89'

     Barton fails to get hold of a Leon Best knockdown as Newcastle threaten. Briefly.

109. 90'

     Into added time, of which we have four minutes.

110. 90'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Vermaelen for a clear tug on Leon Best.

111. 90'

     Free-kick from Barton does not beat the first man.

112. 90'

     Colocinni on the overlap puts in a fine ball and Arsenal have to hack behind.

113. 90'

     Barton's ball is poor.

114. 91'

     Newcastle with the added-time pressure.

115. 91'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Djourou on for Ramsey as Wenger, amazingly tries to kill time. When ambitions are low.

116. 93'

     Walcott runs off the end of the pitch in a style that is all his own. Arsenal bereft of ideas again.

117. 94'

     Van Persie tries from distance. It is wide and weak.

118. 94'

     The whistle has gone on a game short on quality but then high on anger in the Gervinho incident that followed Joey Barton being stamped on by Alex Song. That was the key moment in a game short on quality, and Arsenal already look short of the qualities they need to challenge. Newcastle were lacking, but Joey Barton blotted their copybook for getting involved. Gervinho was silly but can consider himself unfortunate.

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