Robert red card helps Gunners' title march

Newcastle United 1 Arsenal 1

They paraded their trophies at St James' Park before kick-off. Sir Bobby Robson received the Jackie Milburn Trophy for a lifetime's contribution to sport in the north-east, plus his manager-of-the-month award for January, while Jonathan Woodgate was briefly displayed to the 'Geordie Nation'. After yesterday's thrilling, bruising encounter, it was possible to believe they might one day be displaying a greater prize, the championship.

It is unlikely, however, to be this year. Although, reduced to 10 men, they fought the champions to a standstill and have a game in hand, Arsenal are eight points clear of Newcastle in third place and, more importantly, are still three ahead of Manchester United in second.

There was something here for everyone. While St James' Park greeted the final whistle with a roar of vindication, confident that this was proof they could compete with the finest English football has to offer, Arsenal had become the first Premiership side since 11 September to return from Tyneside with anything other than a defeat. Given that United had also dropped points in the Manchester derby, Arsène Wenger would have settled for that.

As the Arsenal manager pointed out with a grin, his own team proved last season that it is perfectly possible to win with 10 men. "We did it at Liverpool and Blackburn, perhaps we struggled because we were 11," he smiled, accepting that both here and at Anfield last month Arsenal drew big games they might have won.

"We did not finish them off but, most importantly, we created chances against powerful sides. The fact that we did not win makes it interesting for everybody but the team is ready for the challenge and we know we have the quality to win the title."

That quality, emphasised in a series of glittering, shimmering moves that no other team in England is quite capable of matching, was most on display in a first half in which Newcastle might have conceded three.

As early as the 10th minute, a thundering header from Patrick Vieira struck Nolberto Solano's thigh and rebounded on to the crossbar, which was not to prove Newcastle's narrowest escape of the afternoon.

One of the first stars of Viz magazine, which is published on Tyneside, was a character named Billy the Fish, who kept goal for Fulchester United by making incredible saves with his head. As Titus Bramble's outstretched boot deflected Dennis Bergkamp's cross fatally towards goal, Shay Given produced something similar, nodding away what would have been a punch to Newcastle's collective stomach.

The blow actually fell two minutes later. It was beautifully set up and consummated. A wonderful pass from Sylvain Wiltord left Andy O'Brien wrong footed and Thierry Henry cutting in on Given's goal. The keeper committed himself too soon and with one touch of his boot the striker was passing into an unguarded net.

What distressed Robson was that the move began with a slackly-taken throw by Olivier Bernard which Jermaine Jenas failed to control. "We lost a goal because two young players did not have the patience to retain the ball," said the Newcastle manager, although the summit of his anger was reserved for Laurent Robert's sending-off, which he claimed turned the match entirely in Arsenal's favour.

The winger has a talent and a temper that is as mercurial as the winds around the Indian Ocean island of Reunion where he was born. In the space of five second-half minutes, he drew Newcastle level, skipping past two tackles to beat David Seaman, was booked for a clumsy fouls on Lauren and was then shown a second yellow card for kicking the ball away.

Robert had been standing a yard away from Bergkamp, who was attempting to take a free-kick, and at the third time of asking drove the ball against the Frenchman's shins. Robert then stupidly blocked the ball. "It was a big dismissal for us. He's just scored and is on a high, our public are on a high," said Robson.

"Who is going to win the game? In the end we had to see out the last half-hour. If we won this game, the title is wide open and this has meant we have lost a big chance."

What was surprising was that Arsenal did not press their advantage. O'Brien did block crucially from Bergkamp and, although Wenger threw on Francis Jeffers, his 'fox in the box' could not have kept a lower profile if pursued by the Quorn Hunt. Away from home Newcastle's back four have been horribly vulnerable, at St James' Park though they have conceded fewer than Arsenal have at Highbury or Manchester United at Old Trafford. Craig Bellamy was pushed out wide on the right, a position he occupies for Wales, while Jenas and Kieron Dyer threw themselves into a pitched battle with Vieira and Gilberto Silva.

Most impressively of all was the way Shearer used up time and space against both Martin Keown and Sol Campbell. This was his type of game, one of grit, effort and elbows.

Right at the death, Newcastle might have snatched victory as a cross from Bellamy dipped wickedly over Seaman's head and, but for a wonderful tip-over, might have ended in the net beneath the Gallowgate End. It was another Ronaldinho moment but one Seaman survived.

Goals: Henry (35) 0-1; Robert (52) 1-1.

Newcastle United (4-4-2): Given 7; Hughes 6, O'Brien 7, Bramble 7, Bernard 6; Solano 5 (Speed 5, h-t), Dyer 8, Jenas 7, Robert 6; Bellamy 6, Shearer 8 (Ameobi, 90). Substitutes not used: LuaLua, Dabizas, Caig (gk).

Arsenal (4-4-2): Seaman 7; Lauren 5, Keown 7, Campbell 8, Cole 5; Wiltord 5 (Van Bronckhorst, 85), Vieira 7, Gilberto 5 (Parlour, 85), Pires 7; Bergkamp 6 (Jeffers, 78), Henry 7. Substitutes not used: Cygan, Taylor (gk).

Referee: N.Barry (Scunthorpe) 7.

Bookings: Newcastle: Shearer, Robert . Arsenal: Lauren, Cole. Sent off: Newcastle: Robert.

Man of the match: Shearer.

Attendance: 52,157.