Toon in the dumps but Wenger's happy again
Arsene Wenger began and ended the evening with that famous sardonic smile; one which would not be out of place should it be captured in oils and hung alongside the Mona Lisa.
The Arsenal manager popped into the press room before the game to monitor the afternoon results. Just to be sure Manchester United had lost at Fulham and Chelsea were losing at Spurs, he checked all three tellies.
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TWO GOOD: Goal heroes Samir Nasri and Nicklas Bendtner celebrate
You didn't have to offer him a penny for his thoughts - his slightly smug expression spared such extravagance.
'The other results provided us with a good opportunity - even if it is only a chance in a billion,' he said later. 'We are an improving side full of spirit and great quality. People don't realise how young we are - we had six players in the team between 20 and 22.'
If the news that Michael Owen had inexplicably been left on the Newcastle bench by Chris Hughton did not cause Wenger's grin to spread even further, it should have. His team's performance, full of free expression and style, certainly did.
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Wenger admitted he was surprised by Owen's omission. 'I don't know why. Maybe it was his physical ability,' he said. Whether it was bravery or foolhardiness, Newcastle's caretaker boss was taught a lesson in the folly of gambling when a situation cried out for the fourth highest scorer in Premier League history.
Referee Mark Halsey handed the home side an unexpected lifeline in the 23rd minute when he harshly awarded a penalty for Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia's challenge on Ryan Taylor. You could sense Owen twitch in the dug-out. But Obafemi Martins strode up to become Newcastle's fifth penalty-taker of the season - and Almunia would have more problems picking daffodils than he did saving what was little more than a pass back.
The former Liverpool, Real Madrid and England striker hardly looked amused. Speculation is rife he took the news of his demotion badly, although Hughton insisted his decision had been received 'in a professional manner'. Owen's body language told a different story. Newcastle fans should make the most of him - he will not be around much longer.
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The hosts still gave as good as they got in a pulsating first half. Arsenal's defence resorted to panic measures and Kevin Nolan, returning for Newcastle after a three-match ban to make his 300th league appearance, went close to setting up Owen's stand-in, Peter Lovenkrands, in the 37th minute. But the ball hit the Dane on the backside bang in front of goal.
Newcastle needed superb blocks from Steven Taylor on Andrey Arshavin and Robin Van Persie to prevent certain goals, although he was lucky to be on the field for the second after a forearm smash on Arshavin in the 31st minute escaped the referee's attention. The second period was even better than the first.
Two goals in the space of 13 seconds set up the drama to follow. Nicklas Bendtner's header from a swirling Arshavin free-kick gave Arsenal a 57th-minute lead, but Martins cashed in on a William Gallas clanger to equalise.
Then two Arsenal goals in three minutes condemned Newcastle to at least a fortnight in the relegation zone, with Van Persie's slick passing providing both.
The Dutchman worked a superb one-two with Abou Diaby in the 64th minute before the French midfielder fired home. Then Samir Nasri benefited from Van Persie's spoon-feeding to squeeze the ball between Newcastle keeper Steve Harper and his near post.
If Harper was to blame for that, he redeemed himself with a series of point-blank saves as Arsenal, by now on a gluttonous rampage, could have doubled their tally. In between those Arsenal goals, Owen came off the bench as a 65th-minute replacement for the injured Taylor, but the damage had already been done.
Arsene Wenger began and ended the evening with that famous sardonic smile; one which would not be out of place should it be captured in oils and hung alongside the Mona Lisa.
The Arsenal manager popped into the press room before the game to monitor the afternoon results. Just to be sure Manchester United had lost at Fulham and Chelsea were losing at Spurs, he checked all three tellies.
bend
TWO GOOD: Goal heroes Samir Nasri and Nicklas Bendtner celebrateYou didn't have to offer him a penny for his thoughts - his slightly smug expression spared such extravagance.
'The other results provided us with a good opportunity - even if it is only a chance in a billion,' he said later. 'We are an improving side full of spirit and great quality. People don't realise how young we are - we had six players in the team between 20 and 22.'
If the news that Michael Owen had inexplicably been left on the Newcastle bench by Chris Hughton did not cause Wenger's grin to spread even further, it should have. His team's performance, full of free expression and style, certainly did.
nick
Wenger admitted he was surprised by Owen's omission. 'I don't know why. Maybe it was his physical ability,' he said. Whether it was bravery or foolhardiness, Newcastle's caretaker boss was taught a lesson in the folly of gambling when a situation cried out for the fourth highest scorer in Premier League history.
Referee Mark Halsey handed the home side an unexpected lifeline in the 23rd minute when he harshly awarded a penalty for Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia's challenge on Ryan Taylor. You could sense Owen twitch in the dug-out. But Obafemi Martins strode up to become Newcastle's fifth penalty-taker of the season - and Almunia would have more problems picking daffodils than he did saving what was little more than a pass back.
The former Liverpool, Real Madrid and England striker hardly looked amused. Speculation is rife he took the news of his demotion badly, although Hughton insisted his decision had been received 'in a professional manner'. Owen's body language told a different story. Newcastle fans should make the most of him - he will not be around much longer.oba
The hosts still gave as good as they got in a pulsating first half. Arsenal's defence resorted to panic measures and Kevin Nolan, returning for Newcastle after a three-match ban to make his 300th league appearance, went close to setting up Owen's stand-in, Peter Lovenkrands, in the 37th minute. But the ball hit the Dane on the backside bang in front of goal.
Newcastle needed superb blocks from Steven Taylor on Andrey Arshavin and Robin Van Persie to prevent certain goals, although he was lucky to be on the field for the second after a forearm smash on Arshavin in the 31st minute escaped the referee's attention. The second period was even better than the first.
Two goals in the space of 13 seconds set up the drama to follow. Nicklas Bendtner's header from a swirling Arshavin free-kick gave Arsenal a 57th-minute lead, but Martins cashed in on a William Gallas clanger to equalise.
Then two Arsenal goals in three minutes condemned Newcastle to at least a fortnight in the relegation zone, with Van Persie's slick passing providing both.
The Dutchman worked a superb one-two with Abou Diaby in the 64th minute before the French midfielder fired home. Then Samir Nasri benefited from Van Persie's spoon-feeding to squeeze the ball between Newcastle keeper Steve Harper and his near post.
If Harper was to blame for that, he redeemed himself with a series of point-blank saves as Arsenal, by now on a gluttonous rampage, could have doubled their tally. In between those Arsenal goals, Owen came off the bench as a 65th-minute replacement for the injured Taylor, but the damage had already been done.
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