A first-half matchwinner from veteran Dennis Bergkamp returned Arsenal to
second place in the Barclays Premiership - but they remain 10 points behind
leaders Chelsea.
The Dutchman's fourth goal of the season in the 19th minute kept alive the
Gunners' slim hopes of catching their runaway London rivals.
Arsenal were only prevented from increasing their tally by a superb display
from Magpies goalkeeper Shay Given, who produced a string of top-class saves to
limit the champions to a single strike.
Arsene Wenger's side had demonstrated their desire to despatch United
immediately from the kick-off when they could have opened the scoring without an
opposing player touching the ball.
A fine move through the midfield, masterminded by the evergreen Bergkamp,
ended with Ashley Cole's cross being headed back into the six-yard box by Robert
Pires - but Flamini could not find a way past Given despite two snatched
attempts.
In the 16th minute, Newcastle's Steven Taylor was booked for pulling back
Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira - and three minutes later the champions were
ahead.
Kolo Toure's delicately lofted through-ball to Flamini was played into the
path of the advancing Dutchman - and Bergkamp made no mistake from six yards.
Two minutes later, Thierry Henry tested Given with a 20-yard drive which the
Magpies goalkeeper could only spill for a corner as Arsenal finally began to
find some rhythm.
The home side continued to pursue a second goal - but long-range efforts from
Bergkamp and Pires were narrowly wide of the mark.
Pires was the closest of the two - with the Frenchman's effort from 30 yards
swerving away from Given's left-hand post at the last moment.
Four minutes from the interval Taylor, who had already been booked, fouled
Jose Antonio Reyes and was lucky to remain on the pitch.
The tackle brought a furious response from Wenger on the touchline but again
referee Steve Dunn opted not to book the Newcastle player.
Wenger and United manager Graeme Souness were engaged in a heated discussion
shortly afterwards when Lee Bowyer was yellow-carded for a nasty tackle from
behind on Vieira and just before the break Reyes was also booked for a tackle
from behind on Lee Bowyer - with Dunn feeling the wrath of the home fans when he
was persuaded to produce a card by the intervention of former England skipper
Alan Shearer.
The home side started strongly in the second half and Newcastle defender
Jean-Alain Boumsong gave them a chance to increase their lead when he fouled
Henry on the edge of the penalty area in the 49th minute.
The Frenchman recovered to take the free-kick and his curling effort was
beaten away by Given.
The simmering feud between Bowyer and Vieira had still not ended and the pair
had words once more when the Arsenal skipper fouled the Newcastle midfielder.
Laurent Robert's attempt to make Arsenal pay for their indiscretion backfired
when he sent the subsequent 30-yard free-kick flashing wide of the target.
In the 61st minute only the width of Given's left-hand post denied Henry. who
took delivery of a slide-rule pass from Vieira but saw the goalkeeper get a
touch on the ball and defect it onto the upright.
Four minutes later, Toure just failed to direct his shot from Henry's corner
inside the far post.
Arsenal were now in full control and moments later Given saved from Pires
after a delightful move.
Vieira and Reyes combined on the left flank and when the Spaniard crossed low
into the middle, Henry's clever dummy left Pires with a free shot on goal from
eight yards - however, the Frenchman placed the ball within the reach of Given.
Henry was thwarted by the goalkeeper again in the 75th minute when the
Frenchman's powerful right-foot shot was tipped away.
And a minute later Flamini's effort was deflected after good work from Reyes
on the right had provided him with a close range opportunity.
With just one goal in the game Newcastle were always in with a chance and in
the 81st minute the visitors came close to levelling the scores.
Magpies midfielder Bowyer seemed certain to equalise when he dribbled his way
into the Arsenal penalty area but the previously untested Manuel Almunia was
equal to his low drive - and the Gunners held on for all three points.
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