EPL: AFC vs NUFC

iveco SG

Date: 18 November 2006

Venue: Emirates Stadium

KO Time: 1500 GMT

iveco SG

GIVEN AND MARTINS TO RETURN

Newcastle United keeper Shay Given and striker Obafemi Martins could return from injury for the Barclays Premiership trip to Arsenal.

The Irishman has been sidelined for two months by an abdominal injury which required surgery after a collision with West Ham Uniteds Marlon Harewood, but returned in the Republic of Ireland's win over San Marino on Wednesday.

Nigeria frontman Martins, meanwhile, has missed the last five games with a hamstring injury.

Turkey midfielder Emre is suspended, while Celestine Babayaro (groin), Olivier Bernard (hip) and Michael Owen (knee) are also out, but Shola Ameobi (hip) could play his final game before having an operation and Stephen Carr (foot), Titus Bramble (back) and James Milner (leg) could be available.

Arsenal will be without midfielders Gilberto and Freddie Ljungberg.

The 30-year-old Gilberto returned to Brazil to deal with a family matter, and is not expected back until Sunday.

"I had him on the phone last night (Thursday), and he is there for sickness reasons," manager Arsene Wenger revealed.

"The situation looks quite good now, and hopefully he will be in on Monday morning, so we will see him for the Champions League game."

Ljungberg will also be rested again after several weeks out with a calf injury.

"I nearly wanted to pick him, but it is down to the fact that for five weeks he has not played one minute at a competitive level," said Wenger.

Brazilian Julio Baptista, however, is available, along with goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, who has recovered from the heavy cold which saw him miss the win over Liverpool and Germany's midweek Euro 2008 qualifier in Cyprus.

Midfielder Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) is still a week or so away from fitness, while Abou Diaby (ankle) and Lauren (knee) are long-term absentees.

Arsenal (from): Lehmann, Hoyte, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Fabregas, Hleb, Henry, van Persie, Baptista, Almunia, Djourou, Senderos, Eboue, Flamini, Walcott, Aliadiere, Adebayor.

Newcastle United (from): Given, Harper, Srnicek, Carr, Taylor, Moore, Bramble, Ramage, Huntington, Butt, Parker, Solano, Milner, Duff, Dyer, NZogbia, Pattison, Ameobi, Martins, Rossi, Sibierski, Luque.

iveco SG

ARSENAL v NEWCASTLE UNITED, 1-1 Sat 18 Nov 2006

Thierry Henry stepped off the bench to inspire Arsenal's recovery as they earned a point against Newcastle United.

The Gunners skipper had been left on the bench for the Barclays Premiership clash with Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium, manager Arsene Wenger concerned about player burn-out following his midweek international duty with France.

Henry, though, once again proved to be Arsenals inspiration.

The brilliant Frenchman was introduced as a second-half substitute when his team were trailing 1-0 - and promptly curled in a free-kick to level on 70 minutes.

Arsenal pressed, but were denied by some resolute defending and an inspired display by Newcastle keeper Shay Given, fit again following an injury lay-off.

The point, hard-fought as it was, meant Arsenal lost ground on Barclays Premiership pace-setters Manchester United and Chelsea, although with a match in hand they are still not out of the title race.

For Newcastle, results elsewhere mean they are at least out of the relegation zone - although still in trouble at the wrong end of the table.

Wenger had again stressed the need for his side to take the lead and so force Newcastle to make a game of it, rather than sit back as many visitors had done at the Emirates Stadium.

Those directives were not transferred onto the field, however, as after a positive start and decent chances for Emmanuel Adebayor and Cesc Fabregas, the Magpies stole the lead on the half-hour.

Arsenal were left light at the back following a free-kick, and were caught on the break.

A flick-on from Obafemi Martins put Kieron Dyer into space on the edge of the area.

Emmanuel Eboue was tracking him - but the England midfielder took control of the ball, turned and coolly dispatched a low strike into the bottom right-hand corner.

Arsenal were clearly incensed by again falling behind at home, despite dominating for large spells of the match.

The danger was now, of course, that Newcastle would sit back on their lead, getting plenty of men behind the ball.

With the visitors indeed sitting deep, Robin van Persie tried his luck from 25 yards, but his well-struck shot was straight at Given.

Arsenal remained patient, knocking the ball around waiting for an opening as half-time approached.

Adebayor sent a looping header over from Fabregas chip into area, before Van Persie curled an angled shot on the turn just wide of the far post after darting in down the right.

Holland international Van Persie had to go for treatment on his ankle following a heavy block on the edge of the area, and it was no surprise when he did not reappear at the start of the second half, replaced by Henry.

Arsenal created an opening inside the first few moments.

The ball broke to Adebayor and his snap-shot from close range was drilled straight at Given, who made a smart reaction save.

There was a determination about the Gunners, who produced several slick passing moves, if without the final telling ball.

Nevertheless, there were still moments of concern at the other end.

On 55 minutes, Dyer again found space at the edge of the area and sent a curling effort from the Newcastle left just wide of the far post.

Henry was slipped into the left side of the area by Gael Clichy, but his angled shot was deflected away acrobatically by Given.

The home side continued to dominate as the hour mark approached.

Fabregas was next to be found in space in the danger zone - and his snap-shot was superbly beaten clear one-handed by Given.

It was all Arsenal now, the hosts forcing a succession of corners.

With 20 minutes left, Steven Taylor was cautioned when he bundled over Henry, who was looking to get away on an angled ball down the left.

The Arsenal captain dusted himself down and took the free-kick himself, whipping it up over the wall - and in off the underside of the crossbar for his seventh goal of the season.

Fabregas saw an effort deflected inches wide by Craig Moore and Henry had an effort diverted onto the post before Given pulled off another fine flying save from the Arsenal skipper.

Four minutes of stoppage time were shown, and the Gunners continued to press - but crucially once again failed to find a winner.

798 SG

sian 1/2. another of gunners' flop match. Sad