| Newcastle United | Arsenal | |
|---|---|---|
| Date | Sat, Aug 13, 2011, 12:30 EST | |
| Competition | Barclays Premier League |
Newcastle - Arsenal LineUp Prediction:
Newcastle (4-4-2): Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, S Taylor, R Taylor, Gutierrez, Barton, Cabaye, Tiote, Ameobi, Ba
Arsenal (4-3-2-1): Szczesny
Sagna, Djourou, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Song, Ramsey, Rosicky, Gervinho, Walcott, Van Persie
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri will not travel with the squad amid reports that they are both primed to leave the club over the course of the weekend. Robin van Persie will undergo a fitness test while Jack Wilshere and Abou Diaby are out through injury but Thomas Vermaelen and Theo Walcott are fit to play.
Yohan Cabaye was unable to make the most of Obertan's back-heeled 61st-minute ball into the box, and Wenger decided to make a change of his own seconds later when he replaced Arshavin with England international Walcott.
The newcomer might have given his side the lead within minutes when he ran onto Aaron Ramsey's through-ball, but he could not beat Krul from close range.
However, the game exploded into controversy with 14 minutes remaining when Barton reacted furiously to what he believed was a dive by Gervinho under Cheick Tiote's challenge inside the box.
The Ivory Coast international lost his cool and slapped Barton in the resulting melee, and referee Peter Walton had little option but to produce a red card.
Newcastle might have snatched victory at the death, only for the impressive Koscielny to deny substitute Peter Lovenkrands a close-range header, but that would have been harsh on the visitors, who were nevertheless booed from the pitch.
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