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Brawl at Tyneside ends in red for Gunner | On an exciting day of Premier League action, perhaps the most one-sided game has been the fixture between Newcastle United and Arsenal. With the Gunners leading 4-0 at the end of the first half, little was expected from the hosts at St. James’ Park following the interval.
However, the second period has already began on a positive note for the Magpies. In a brawl that was initiated by a strong tackle from Joey Barton, the recipient Abou Diaby got much more than the challenge itself as he ended up being sent off for pushing two Newcastle players.
Although one can certainly make a case that Diaby could have been let go with a booking, the Frenchman’s temperament was far from professional. When he pushed Barton down to the turf immediately after the tackle, the controversial Toon midfielder stayed down without retaliating.
As Kevin Nolan arrived on the scene to confront Diaby, the Gunners midfielder put his hands on the Newcastle skipper as well, leaving the officials with little room for any other interpretation than punishing him.
A few minutes later, Barton stepped up to convert a penalty as the hosts cut the deficit down to three goals. Arsene Wenger didn’t look all that bothered, though, as his side is moments away from going within two points of leaders Manchester United.
Elsewhere, the Gunners’ North London rivals Tottenham just conceded an equalizer to Bolton after Rafael Van der Vaart missed one of his two penalties earlier in the match.
Arsenal’s title rivals Manchester City, on the other hand, are nowhere near level at the Eastlands as Carlos Tevez has scored a hat-trick against West Bromwich to keep their hopes alive.
Despite writing off his side in the title race, Tevez – unlike Van der Vaart – converted both his penalties to give Roberto Mancini’s men a nearly unassailable 3-0 lead against the Baggies.
Update: After this article was published, Leon Best scored from a header to bring Newcastle within two goals at 4-2. Another Joey Barton penalty as well as an incredible volley from Ismael Chiek Tiote led to a historic 4-4 draw when all was said and done.
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Watch Full match Video Highlight Goals :: Newcastle United 4 – 4 Arsenal (5th February 2011):::– http://hottrands.blogspot.com/2011/02/newcastle-united-4-4-arsenal-5th.html
Why no-one mentioned about the disallowed goal, Best is obviously onside. Secondly, Diaby didn’t control the ball properly, Barton went for it. Barton COULD probably be given a yellow, but he touched the ball first, it’s Diaby reaction that got him the red. If situation were reversed, Barton would probably be castigated by a whole nation for the stupid reaction.
A small group of Arsenal here appears to be suffering from myopia, same like Arsene. First off, it was a one-footed challenge, took the ball first and the man, a certain de Jong broke our players feet and didn’t even receive a red, that’s football, grow up. A coming from players which rich tradition of the art of diving, Pires, Ljungberg and Walcott, it’s childish to accuse Barton for diving. Maybe the replay was too difficult for you to see eh, especially after getting drunk and celebrating too early in the game.
Helen, yes Newcastle can’t play, they are not even a top 10 teams in PL, which makes it more hillarious as they took 4 points off Arsenal
The penalties are legit, you commit a similar offence anywhere in a pitch, it’s a foul. The question is why the defender commit such a stupid mistake?
The penalties are legit???
look i don’t want to take any credit away from Newcastle but the ref influenced the result in many ways and you don’t need to be an arsenal supporter to admit that
“which makes it more hillarious as they took 4 points off Arsenal”
- This actual statement is quite hilarious because you clearly have no clue about football. Two points were lost.
I think Zam meant to say that Arsenal only managed to get one point out of a possible six against Newcastle this season. With that in mind, the math is still off as the Gunners dropped five points, not four. Obviously, this statistic won’t make any Gooner feel better about the situation but as Wenger said, we can only hope for better things in the future.
we won at emirates = 3 points
dream at home = 1 point
3+1 = what?
I know us geordies are seen as thick but you saying that was hilarious when its right is mind boggling
Not bothered, ha ha ha, talk about counting chicken
wenger and his so called players are a degrace and don’t deserve to wear the shirt, wenger has to go he does not no how to buy a defender to two he has bought
this season are s**t there old clubs must
be rubbing there hands and giggling.Wenger must be taking more backhanders than gramham ever deed.
Total lack of professionalism! 4 up why foul? Why risk trouble changing centre back? Usual bad tactical decisions. No decent captain to organise team. Reason this team wont win anything big! Defence is an insult amost Arsenals worse ever
update-today you have just seen one of the most incompetant,biased refereeing performance you are ever,ever a likely to see.homer doesn’t even come close!phil dowd ia complete & utter c**t!
And we wonder why England will never win a world cup! Dirty thug commits an air bound two footed challenge, and the victim of the said challenge is sent off for pushing him in the back of the neck. Then to make matter worse, the man brandishing the red card gives two penalties for absolutely nothing at pivotal points in the game! Yet another victory for the typical talentless “go out and put your foot in” manager. Joke!
Ref need go get there eyes seen plus newcastle full over there feet and short out ref i fell over plz can we have an goal plz //// ROCK OFF NEWCASTLE U FELL OVER BIG TIME U CANT PLAY
Diaby – whatever the provocation behaved in a disgraceful manner, he put pressure (by being sent off) on his tea mates, almost cost the team all the points and for a player who has not been pulling his weight so far this season, that is unacceptable, should be sols, he’s thick
Got to love the ref trying to make it a comeback for the home team, softest penalty ever then gives a free kick outside the box for a pathetic dive by barton.
Not to mention Barton’s attempt to break diaby’s legs in the first place.
Arsene needs to take that diaby p***k and sack him. Hes s**t Cost us the game W****R