Arsenal vs. Newcastle: Match Review

Arsenal will be at the top of the Premier League for at least 24 hours after defeating Newcastle United 3-0 for the second successive time in only four days. The Gunners, who also beat Newcastle 3-0 in the FA Cup on Saturday, are now three points ahead of Manchester United, who face Portsmouth at Old Trafford tomorrow.

Arsenal went ahead in the 40th minute when Emmanuel Adebayor scored his 9th goal in 7 games to go within one goal of Cristiano Ronaldo's total of 17. Mathieu Flamini bagged Arsenal's second with a fabulous strike from 25 yards out and Cesc Fabregas put the game beyond doubt with a goal in the 80th.

Lineups:
Arsenal: Manuel Almunia; Gael Clichy, William Gallas, Philippe Senderos, Bacary Sagna; Abou Diaby, Cesc Fabregas, Mathieu Flamini, Alex Hleb; Emmanuel Adebayor, Eduardo

Newcastle: Shay Given; Claudio Cacapa, Stephen Carr, Steven Taylor, David Rozenhal; Nicky Butt, James Milner, Charles N'Zogbia, Damien Duff; Michael Owen, Alan Smith

Arsenal were in control right from the start and almost got an early lead when a quick exchange between Gael Clichy and Cesc Fabregas was halted on the edge of the penalty box by a fine tackle from Steven Taylor.

In the 17th minute Arsenal had another great chance when Abou Diaby got his head to a cross from Alex Hleb. Unfortunately for Arsenal fans, Diaby was put off just enough by a challenge from Nicky Butt, and his diving header went far off the mark.

Shay Given nearly scored an own goal a few minutes later as Adebayor pressured the keeper into a cheeky backheel from only a few yards in front of his own goal. Kevin Keegan was irate, but Given got away with it, controlling the ball well enough to give away a corner rather than a goal.

Arsenal finally got on the scoreboard in the 40th minute when Adebayor got his head onto a cross from Mathieu Flamini. The perfectly weighted cross was turned into the net by the prolific Togolese striker, as déjà vu began to hit the Newcastle fans.

The goal ensured that Arsenal went into halftime with a lead, and Kevin Keegan's side seemed well-beaten after having only managed one shot on goal in the first half.

Newcastle came out far stronger in the second half though, refusing to die down despite being a goal behind at the Emirates. Good work up the flanks was undone by a failure to find the correct final pass, and all of Newcastle's early possession in the second half barely even won the Magpies a shot on goal.

Given was tested again in the 66th minute when he showed fine reactions to get down to the ground and save a low drive from Flamini.

A few minutes later, Nicklas Bendtner came on for Eduardo, pairing the young Dane with Adebayor for the first time since their argument at White Heart Lane. There was no conflict between the two players though, as the bust-up seems to have been worked out.

A strong performance by Flamini was rewarded only minutes after the substitution when the Frenchman released an incredible drive from 25 yards out to double Arsenal's lead. The 72nd minute strike was even better than Flamini's cross for the first goal, and cemented the 23 year-old as the man of the match.

Cesc Fabregas provided a third for Arsenal after reaching a centering pass from Nicklas Bendtner. The midfield maestro looks to be getting back into the form that he showed in the beginning of the season.

Newcastle almost got a late consolation goal when Nicky Butt crashed a free-kick onto Almunia's crossbar, but the game was already lost for the Magpies as Arsenal hit the top of the Premiership.

Newcastle vs. Arsenal: Match Review

Newcastle came back from an early goal down to win a point against Premier League leaders Arsenal, who failed to capitalize on a game in hand but nonetheless went four points clear of second-placed Manchester United.

Arsenal were 1-0 up after only four minutes, after Emmanuel Adebayor drilled a fabulous volley into the back of Shay Given's net. Despite having lost their last four matches, though, Sam Allardyce's Newcastle showed some spirit, and got a point out of the match when Steven Taylor's 60th minute strike went in off of the post.

Lineups:
Newcastle: Shay Given; Habib Beye, David Rozenhal, Steven Taylor; Joey Barton, Nicky Butt, James Milner, Charles N'zogbia, Geremi; Obafemi Martins, Alan Smith

Arsenal: Manuel Almunia; Bacary Sagna, Kolo Toure, William Gallas, Gael Clichy; Emmanuel Eboue, Gilberto Silva, Lassana Diarra, Tomas Rosicky, Eduardo da Silva; Emmanuel Adebayor

Arsenal started off with a bang after a brilliant piece of work from Emmanuel Adebayor silenced the Tyneside crowd only four minutes into the game.

The lanky Togolese striker chested down a cross from Emmanuel Eboue, and drilled an unstoppable volley between Steven Taylor and David Rozenhal before the ball touched the ground.

The goal will certainly be a contender for goal of the month.

Newcastle almost responded only a few seconds after Adebayor's strike when Geremi sent a header just wide with Almunia beaten.

The Magpies skipper then saw a free kick well saved by a fully stretched Almunia in the 28th minute.

The Arsenal goalkeeper played brilliantly, and made yet another save as the game approached half-time, throwing up a hand to deflect Steven Taylor's header onto the post. The save was so unexpected that the Newcastle players appealed for a handball, assuming that an Arsenal outfielder had touched the ball, rather than the brilliant keeper.

It was a warning for Arsenal, though, as Newcastle continued to press the Gunners in the second half.

Charles N'Zogbia powered a shot towards the well-worked Arsenal keeper soon after the break, but the ball only stung the Almunia's hands from distance.

The visitors showed some of their promise soon after, as Tomas Rosicky played Eboue in down the right. Unfortunately the Ivorian crossed straight to Shay Given, wasting a gilt-edged opportunity.

Geremi saw a shot blocked by Gilberto in the 53rd minute, before an Arsenal fast-break started.
Adebayor and Rosicky played off of each other, but the Togo striker raced ahead into an offside position, as the Czech Republic captain had the ball stripped away.

It was a chance that the Gunners would rue, as Newcastle equalized in the 60th minute.

Bacary Sagna was kept away from Habib Beye's cross by a strong Obafemi Martins, and the ball fell perfectly for Steven Taylor. Sagna tried to recover, but his block came a fraction of a second too late, as Taylor's shot ricocheted home off of the bottom of Almunia's post, giving the keeper no chance.

Newcastle continued to play strongly, as a shell-shocked Arsenal side backed down.

Even Nicklas Bendtner coming on for Eduardo could do little, as Arsenal settled for a point at St. James' Park.