Arsenal 3 Newcastle United 0

11:26am Monday 1st September 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

Goals: 1-0: Van Persie (18 mins penalty; unstoppable strike after N’Zogbia handled) 2-0: Van Persie (41; lashed home after Eboue backheel) 3-0: Denilson (59; Denilson slotted home after great move)
Bookings: Coloccini (28mins, unsporting behaviour) Fabregas (52, foul) Given (52, dissent) Nasri (90, foul)
Referee: Rob Styles (Hampshire) A couple of poor decisions in Arsenal’s favour but correct in awarding the penalty 5
Attendance: 60,067
Entertainment: ****

	Arsenal	Darlington
Shots on	12	2
Shott off	7	1
Corners	12	1
Fouls	13	12
Offsides	6	5

ARSENAL (4-4-2): Almunia 6, Sagna 7, Gallas 7, Toure 7, Clichy 7, Eboue 8 (Walcott, 72mins), Denilson 7 (Song, 69), Fabregas 8, Nasri 7, ,Adebayor 6, VAN PERSIE 8 (Vela, 63, 6). Subs (not used): Fabianski, Ramsey, Djourou, Bendtner.

NEWCASTLE (4-4-2)
7 Given: Some superb saves kept the score down to a respectable level
4 Beye: Never got to grips with the lively Nasri on Arsenal’s right wing
5 Taylor: Couldn’t handle Arsenal’s movement and endured a torrid time
6 Coloccini: Newcastle’s best defender. Worked hard to stem the attacking onslaught
3 Enrique: Ran ragged by Adebayor before going off with a hamstring injury
6 Gutierrez: A gutsy, energetic performance but lacked support in attack
5 Guthrie: Given a lesson in the midfield arts by the excellent Fabregas
5 Butt: Nearly bagged a rare headed goal. Worked hard to little effect
4 N’Zogbia: Unlucky to concede the penalty but rarely at his best
3 Ameobi: Not match fit, never threatened the Arsenal goal, out of his depth
5 Owen: Lack of service from midfield limited him to a single chance on goal

Subs:
Bassong (for Enrique 43) Some promising touches 5 Barton (for Gutierrez 89) Edgar (for Beye 89) (not used): Harper (gk), Tozer, Donaldson, Ranger.

MAN OF THE MATCH
ROBIN van Persie – a constant threat and had numerous chances to bag his first hat-trick for the Gunners