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Result: Arsenal 2-0 NUFCUnited's Premiership campaign got underway at Highbury this afternoon with a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal in a game marred by the inept refereeing performance of match official Steve Bennett who sent off Jenas and awarded the Gunners a penalty which effectively handed them all 3 points, condemning Souness to an opening day defeat - our first in 4 years. Newcastle lined up 4-5-1 with Shay in goal, Carr, Boumsong, Taylor and Baba at the back, Dyer, Jenas, Parker, Emre and Bowyer in midfield and with Skipper Big Al up front by himself. And it was Souness' men who made the better of the start, dominating midfield, playing neat football in the middle and looking strong at the back while the home side looked bereft of ideas and their usual panache. That was all to change though. With just over half an hour gone on the clock, Bennett sent off JJ for a tackle on Gilberto that looked dangerous, but he clearly won the ball. A straight red was given much to the shock of everyone.
Yet when Senderos tugged back Dyer earlier on in the half, with the midfielder ready to pounce clear through on goal, the Arsenal man wasn't even shown a yellow card. Reduced to 10 men we performed doggedly throughout and whatever Arsenal threw at us - who camped in our half after the break - we dealt with it. Then enter Bennet again. With just under 10 minutes left to go the man who also refereed our opening day fixture last season, gave Ljungberg a penalty after adjudging substitute N'Zogbia to have fouled the Swede. Which he never. The Arsenal man kicked the ground and fell over his own feet. Never a penalty! Up stepped Henry to slot it past Given who got a fingertip to it but couldn't keep it out. And not long after Arsenal scored again, Van Persie nipping ahead of Taylor at the near-post to tuck the ball home from a Ljungberg pull back. Despite the defeat Souness and his team can be quite pleased with the performance and the shape of the defence and midfield in particular. Lets now hope the obvious glaring weakness is rectified before the transfer window shuts. Do that and the air of doom and gloom on Tyneside may lift. Or maybe not... Teams NUFC: Given, Carr, Boumsong, Taylor, Babayaro, Dyer (N'Zogbia 69), Jenas, Parker (Faye 82), Emre, Bowyer, Shearer (Milner 72). Subs Not Used: Elliott, Harper. Sent Off: Jenas (32). Booked: Boumsong. Arsenal: Lehmann, Lauren, Toure, Senderos, Cole, Ljungberg, Silva, Fabregas (Hleb 72), Pires (Flamini 84), Bergkamp (Van Persie 72), Henry. Subs Not Used: Cygan, Almunia. Goals: Henry 81 pen, Van Persie 87. Att: 38,072 Ref: S Bennett (Kent).
NUFC History Archives: Opening Day StatsToday Newcastle United begin a roller-coaster season in the Premier League, away to Arsenal. As another season of tension and excitement is not far away, Newcastle-Online.com delves into the archives of Newcastle United and explores how we have fared on those opening days since the club joined the elite ranks of the Premier League. [Read More +] |
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NUFC News Archive (August 14th 2005)
