Arsenal – Newcastle United

1. Hi there Sports Fans. Team news for this crucial Premiership clash; Bellamy out with a mysterious 'hamstring problem', Ameobi and Shearer start up front for Newcastle.

2. Reyes starts a Premiership match for the first time in a month, on the left-hand side of midfield for the Gunners. Flamini is preferred to Fabregas in the centre.

3. Let me set the scene: Newcastle kick off, the crowd are nervous but expectant, the skies are cloudy, players' muscles are taut and firm, the managers' brows furrowed.

4. 1'

   Great start from the Gunners: Reyes bursts through down the left wing, clips a cross to Pires. His header finds Flamini four yards out, but the Frenchman's pot-shot is straight at Given.

5. 2'

   Flamini is nailed by Bowyer, but is on his feet in a flash. Newcastle appear to be playing this new, trendy 4-5-1 / 4-3-3 system.

6. 3'

   Pires almost slips in Bergkamp, but Boumsong sweeps up. This will be a big test for Newcastle's new central defender. Apparently he's big friends with Thierry Henry; that's nice. Just like schoolboys having a kickabout on the park.

7. 5'

   Bergkamp is caught off-side as Reyes heads down to him on the left wing. Good open start to the game; both sides will be happy with that.

8. 7'

   Newcastle have only won twice away from home this season, but they're looking very competitive in the middle of the park.

9. 8'

   Ameobi skips past a couple of defenders and almost fashions a shooting chance, but he's bustled off the ball.

10. 9'

    Boumsong is lucky not to get caught in possession in his own penalty area. He looks a cool customer, though.

11. 9'

    Flamini and Pires contrive to miss a good chance to fire in a dangerous cross. They win a corner, though. Reyes takes short, but Newcastle defend the set-piece well.

12. 11'

    Bergkamp finds Reyes with a wonderful free-kick, but his touch to Henry was too heavy. The Frenchman looks at his young Spanish team-mate as if he's something he's just found on the bottom of his shoe.

13. 13'

    Craig Bellamy cuts a forlorn figure on the Newcastle bench. His head looks to have been very recently shaved, and he looks a little like an Eastern European orphan.

14. 15'

    Henry holds off the challenge of Bramble but his attempted pass to Bergkamp is wayward. He looks particularly grumpy this afternoon. Perhaps his Renault Clio wouldn't start this morning.

15. 16'

    Yellow card for Taylor after a clumsy challenge. He needs to be careful from now on, the young Newcastle right-back; he's going to see a lot of action down that side of the pitch in the remaining minutes.

16. 17'

    Lauren and Sol Campbell have signed new contracts with Arsenal this week. That will please all concerned, I'm sure. They haven't been tested so far today.

17. 17'

    Vieira fouls Shearer to give the visitors the chance to sling a high ball in to the box, but Almunia comes and collects well.

18. 18'

    Henry believes he was fouled by Bernard as they tustled for the ball just outside the Newcastle box. No whistle from the referee.

19. 18'

    GOAL! Bergkamp tucks away a lovely pass from Flamini, who had held off a tough challenge inside the Newcastle box.

20. 19'

    Dyer skips around Lauren and fires across a low cross, but Campbell clears under pressure.

21. 19'

    Reyes finds Henry on the edge of the box. The lanky striker controls, spins and fires a low volley which Given tips around the post. Great effort.

22. 21'

    Arsenal look a lot more settled now they have the goal. Ameobi is caught off-side from a long ball from Bowyer. Lauren Robert might as well not be on the pitch for all he's done in the first 20 minutes.

23. 22'

    Vieira almost finds a rampaging Lauren down the right wing, but Robert - so recently and harshly criticised by yours truly - defends well.

24. 22'

    Bowyer finds Robert with a long ball, but he's robbed of it by Lauren, who sets up another Arsenal counter-attack.

25. 23'

    Jenas swings in a free-kick but Arsenal clear with ease. The visitors need to make better use of their set-pieces.

26. 24'

    Reyes is held back by Jenas, but his free-kick towards Henry is woeful.

27. 25'

    Campbell looks bewildered when a free-kick is given against him in a tustle with Shearer on the touch-line.

28. 26'

    Robert's free-kick is whipped hard towards the Arsenal goal, but Almunia collects well. This is a big game for the Spaniard; he got a big vote of confidence with selection here.

29. 28'

    Ameobi slips past Campbell down the right channel and finds Bowyer with a low cross, but the former Leeds midfielder fires high over the bar. Rubbish.

30. 29'

    Bergkamp fires a low volley a couple of yards wide after latching on to a loose ball 20 yards out. He looks in the mood this afternoon.

31. 30'

    Bernard slings over a deep cross, but Ameobi, unmarked 10 yards out, heads high over Almunia's bar. Not an easy chance, but he should have done better.

32. 31'

    Pires collects after Toure breaks up a Newcastle attack. He takes the ball on a few yards before firing in a 30-yard shot that whistles narrowly wide of Given's top corner.

33. 32'

    Bowyer fouls Campbell but receives only a warning from referee Steve Dunn.

34. 33'

    Pires almost slides in Bergkamp but his pass is a little over-hit.The midfielder hobbles off the pitch complaining of an ankle knock.

35. 34'

    Television cameras pick out Glenn Hoddle in the crowd; he's either here on a scouting mission for Wolves' FA Cup match next week, or else he's planning a transfer bid for Henry.

36. 35'

    Vieira receives treatment on a shin wound after being caught by a late challenge. The Arsenal captain doesn't look comfortable as he limps off the pitch.

37. 36'

    Vieira is back on the pitch, and looks to be moving a little more freely. Bowyer's darting run sets up a Newcastle attack.

38. 37'

    Reyes goes down holding his ankle after a strong challenge from Taylor. The young full-back is perhaps lucky not to get a second yellow card. On the sidelines, Wenger is livid.

39. 37'

    More angry gesturing from the Arsenal manager as Vieira is adjudged to have fouled Taylor.

40. 39'

    Bowyer booked after another tough challenge on Vieira. Wenger and Souness argue on the sidelines about the severity of the tackle. It's fair to suggest they disagree.

41. 41'

    Bernard finds Ameobi with another deep cross. His chest and pass almost finds Shearer 12 yards out, but the Reds defend well.

42. 42'

    Shearer gets wide and fires over a dangerous cross as Newcastle look to finish the half strongly.

43. 43'

    Henry and Boumsong burst on to a loose ball and bare down on the Newcastle goal, but an off-side flag stops them in their tracks.

44. 43'

    Reyes breaks after a spell of possession from Newcastle, but he can't find either Bergkamp or Henry with a pass.

45. 44'

    Several Newcastle players appeal to referee Dunn as Reyes tackles Jenas from behind. Reyes is eventually booked.

46. 45'

    HALF-TIME: A stormy, hard-fought half comes to an end with the home side a goal to the good. Newcastle finished strongly and will have hopes of pressing Arsenal in the second half.

47. 45'

    Half time reports are emerging that Bellamy is not playing for Newcastle this afternoon because he refused to play on the right-side of midfield... I've got my ear to the ground, readers - and all for you.

48. 46'

    SUB: Hughes on for Taylor. The youngster picked up a yellow card in the first half and has been withdrawn by Souness.

49. 46'

    Reyes attacks down the left straight from the kick-off and forces a corner.

50. 47'

    Dyer finds Shearer, who is being consistently booed by the Arsenal fans. At least, I presume it's the Arsenal fans.

51. 48'

    Bergkamp wins a free-kick 45 yards out; Henry takes, but it's easily cleared by Bramble. Henry has gone four games without a goal. No wonder he looks grumpy.

52. 48'

    Henry wins a free-kick from Boumsong. It's only 20 yards out, and central. Henry stands menacingly over the ball, hands on hips. He bends a shot around the wall, but Given punches clear.

53. 49'

    It's still a tough battle in midfield, with both sides working very hard in that middle third. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a sending off this afternoon. But then, I'm not surprised by much.

54. 50'

    The latest stats show that the home side have had eight shots on goal to Newcastle's two. That seems about right.

55. 51'

    Bergkamp gets on the ball 40 yards out and almost finds Reyes with a cute little ball inside the full-back. Unfortunately, the pass is a fraction over-hit and Given collects.

56. 54'

    Loud cheers from the home fans as Cole beats Shearer with a neat turn. Why is it that Alan Shearer is almost universally loathed in England? He seems a nice enough chap to me.

57. 55'

    Free-kick to Newcastle 30 yards out after a foul on Bowyer, who protests vehemently when no yellow card is shown.

58. 56'

    Robert takes the free-kick but curls a low shot wide of the post.

59. 57'

    SUB: N'Zogbia on, Robert off. "Who are ya?" the home fans chant by way of a welcome to the 18-year-old French midfielder.

60. 58'

    A Bernard foul on Bergkamp gives Pires the chance to send over a free-kick. An awful delivery, and someone was off-side anyway. Dreadful stuff.

61. 59'

    N'Zogbia's first contribution is to spoon an attempted cross high over Almunia's bar.

62. 60'

    Reyes finds Cole with a lovely ball down the left channel. Given is drawn towards the ball, and Cole lofts a cross over his head, but no Arsenal player is there to get on the end of it.

63. 61'

    Vieira slips Henry in the inside left channel. The striker outpaces the defender but his shot is deflected by Given on to the post.

64. 62'

    Ameobi manages somehow to get a low cross in, but Almunia collects easily. The little work he's had to do this afternoon, he's done with a fair degree of competence.

65. 63'

    Shearer, chasing 250 Premiership goals, is caught off-side chasing down Boumsong's hoofed clearance.

66. 64'

    Henry wins Arsenal's fifth corner. He takes the set-piece himself and Hughes almost slices the ball in to his own net. Goal-kick given by Referee Dunn.

67. 64'

    Henry is almost found on the penalty spot by a lofted ball from Reyes. Arsenal have absolutely dominated this second half.

68. 65'

    Reyes breaks with pace down the left, slides a lovely ball across the penalty area to Pires, but his side-foot shot is well saved by Given, low down to his left.

69. 66'

    Replays show that Given's save was actually brilliantly saved by Given.

70. 67'

    SUB: Boumsong off with a hamstring injury, O'Brien on. Souness is forced in to a change he hadn't planned, and looks disappointed.

71. 68'

    Pires prods a ball in to Henry, but his shot is blocked by a sprawling Hughes.

72. 69'

    The home side are really starting to look good this afternoon. They enjoy a long spell of possession, without creating a chance.

73. 71'

    Henry is one-on-one with Given, throws himself over the keeper's dive and claims a penalty. Rightfully, Referee Dunn shakes his head.

74. 72'

    Another shocking miss from Henry, who fails to control the ball six yards out with only Given to beat. Cole then misses a sitter moments later.

75. 73'

    Vieira is booked, seemingly for a collection of recently fouls. He takes the decision with surprising good will.

76. 74'

    Arsenal will be getting more than a little nervous at their inability to put this game to bed. Henry has missed two one-on-ones and a host of other chances.

77. 75'

    Incredible save from Given, palming away Henry's shot on the turn from eight yards. Superb stuff from the Irish keeper. Henry is amazed that he isn't celebrating the end of his recent goal drought.

78. 76'

    Reyes dances past a couple of players in the Newcastle box, finds Flamini with a short pass, but his shot is deflected over for another Arsenal corner. The pressure on the visitors' goal is incredible.

79. 77'

    Reyes tracks back brilliantly to rob the ball from N'Zogbia. The Spaniard has played very well today.

80. 77'

    Lauren drives towards the by-line but is hustled off the ball by Bernard.

81. 78'

    Souness has words on the sideline after a tough tackle from Toure on Shearer. An O'Brien slip almost lets in Bergkamp, but the defender recovers at the expense of another corner.

82. 78'

    Another Henry corner is glanced wide by Vieira, who had found some space in a crowded box.

83. 79'

    Bowyer finds some space at the edge of the Arsenal box after beating Cole with a smart turn, but his shot is straight at Almunia. A reminder for Arsenal that they might need a second goal.

84. 80'

    Newcastle have stuck to their task well, and could still force something from this game. They enjoy a rare attack, but it's snuffed out by a resolute home defence.

85. 81'

    As Newcastle look to gamble and press for an equaliser, they're leaving plenty of space at the back for Henry, Reyes and Bergkamp to exploit.

86. 82'

    Ameobi robs Flamini inside the Arsenal box but his low cross is put out for a corner by Toure, who has some rousing words for his team-mates.

87. 83'

    Bramble breaks up an Arsenal counter-attack with a foul on Reyes. The free-kick gives the home side the chance to re-gather themselves for the final minutes.

88. 86'

    Anything less than an Arsenal victory would be an unjust result, but it's going to be a nervous finale for Arsenal as the visitors press.

89. 86'

    Hughes and Bowyer combine to gift Arsenal a throw-in after Reyes had shown some skills on the left-wing.

90. 87'

    SUB: Fabregas on for Reyes. A defensive substitution from Wenger, but Reyes has played very well this afternoon and he is well appreciated by the home fans.

91. 88'

    Henry is back defending for Arsenal as Newcastle loft a ball in to the box. Moments later, the Frenchman breaks downfield but is tripped by Jenas. Yellow card.

92. 90'

    Toure cleans up at the back as Arsenal look to close out the game.

93. 90'

    FULL TIME: Arsenal back in the form of last season, only without the goals. Great display from the Champions, who look determined not to give up their title without a fight.

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