Stalemate on
Tyneside
Newcastle and Arsenal served up a lacklustre affair on Easter
Monday, as the two sides cancelled each other out in a
disappointing 0-0 draw.
There was no lack of commitment from the two sides, but that touch
of magic was sadly missing on Tyneside as Arsenal were involved in
their first 0-0 draw in the Premiership for 15 months.
On this showing, the end of the season cannot come quick enough for
Newcastle, while Arsenal will have to raise their game
substantially if they are to fend off the attentions of Bolton for
the final UEFA Champions League berth.
Alexander Hleb carved out the first chance of contest when cutting
inside from the right on eight minutes, but his low shot was
comfortably saved by Shay Given.
The right flank was an early source of success for Newcastle and
James Milner and Nolberto Solano worked a good opening, but Arsenal
were able to scramble the Peruvian's cross to safety.
Jens Lehmann is keen to win a new deal at Arsenal and he did his
cause no harm at all on 18 minutes when pulling off a superb
reaction save.
The German was momentarily wrong-footed as Emre's weak free-kick
was deflected into Oguchi Onyewu's path, but he was able to
readjust and dive to his right to gather the American's low
drive.
Arsenal have endured a season of frustration and their campaign's
efforts were summed up in an instant shortly before the half-hour
mark.
Abou Diaby did brilliantly to skip past Emre in the middle of the
park and a neat one-two with Cesc Fabregas created space 25 yards
from goal. Diaby had a number of options, but his pass to Freddie
Ljungberg was terribly misplaced and drifted out of play.
Newcastle were dealt a blow on the half-hour mark as Given was
forced off with what appeared to be a groin complaint, with Steve
Harper coming on in his place.
Harper was called into action immediately, as he had to be alert to
gather a wicked free-kick from Fabregas.
Arsenal were left incensed shortly afterwards, as Ljungberg
appeared to be tripped by Solano when latching onto a clever
back-heel from Emmanuel Adebayor, but referee Howard Webb waved
play on.
Adebayor squandered Arsenal's best chance of the first half when
heading wide from six yards, having climbed high above Nicky Butt
at a corner.
Newcastle were happy to trade attacks with Arsenal and after Milner
had fired over following excellent work from Obafemi Martins, Hleb
had to be on hand to charge down a shot from Damien Duff who had
been teed-up by some excellent foraging from Butt.
Arsenal have leaked goals of late and they gifted Newcastle a
gilt-edged chance a minute before the break, as Gael Clichy headed
straight to Duff but the Irishman snatched his shot like a player
who has scored just one goal this term as his effort drifted wide
from six yards.
Newcastle came within a whisker of snatching the lead a minute
after the restart, as Milner's sliced cross caught out Lehmann only
to rattle the crossbar.
Emmanuel Eboue found himself in an advanced position just before
the hour, but he could not do justice to the excellent work of Hleb
as he fired wide from the edge of the box.
For all the endeavour, the approach play far outstripped the final
moments as the two keepers were rarely called into action.
However, after Steven Taylor and Jens Lehmann had got involved in a
barging match, Solano came to Newcastle's rescue.
Steven Carr went to sleep and allowed Ljungberg to carve out a
great opening. Gilberto fired a shot on goal but Solano was on hand
to scramble the ball off the line. Arsenal retained possession and
Solano was the man on the spot again as he leapt to head the
Brazilian's second shot over the bar.
Newcastle's had decent claims for a penalty waved away in the dying
moments, as Onyewu felt he had been pulled back, but Webb turned
away their protests as both sides had to settle for a
point.
