Arsenal 3 Newcastle United 0Persistence is too feeble a virtue to stop Arsenal, who were measured and deft in returning to the top of the Premier League. Newcastle, with nothing over which to reproach themselves, were beaten 3-0 here again.
The last goal was smashed high in the net by Cesc Fabregas in the 82nd minute but Mathieu Flamini's conversion from distance had been even more spectacular shortly before.
Fabregas owed his chance to a lay-off from the substitute Nicklas Bendtner, who was sharing a pitch with Emmanuel Adebayor for the first time since they clashed at White Hart Lane last week. The emergence of Joey Barton from the bench for the visitors was noteworthy too, as he had not played since the period in custody following his arrest at the end of last year. Barton, charged with assault, was able to appear courtesy of the alteration to the terms of his bail.
Whatever the personnel, the visitors were diligent here and maintained their endeavour to such an extent that Nicky Butt hit the bar with a free-kick when his side was 3-0 down.
For once players might have been believed if they had claimed to be unaffected by the restructuring at St James' Park that has inserted a whole tier of executives, including Dennis Wise, above the head of Kevin Keegan. The unsettling factors for the Newcastle side were introduced slowly yet methodically by Arsenal.
It was the confidence of Arsenal that made the match somewhat tame because they surely felt they merely had to be methodical for their talent to tell in the end. A goal came in the 40th minute, after they had once again concentrated on Newcastle's left flank.
Alexander Hleb passed the ball to Fabregas and he freed the breaking Flamini for a cross that Adebayor headed to notch his third goal in four days against these opponents. Two minutes before, there had been signs that Newcastle were wilting a little when the Togo attacker had not been able to adjust to meet an earlier cut-back from Flamini and shot high.
There had been sang-froid to Keegan's team, never more so than when Shay Given realised that Adebayor was closing on him so fast that there was a danger of crashing a clearance against the forward. He resolved the dilemma by backheeling to concede a corner.
There were more orthodox signs of a spirited attitude when Damien Duff eased a pass to the possibly offside James Milner, whose shot was blocked by William Gallas.
It did not take quite so long to clinch this win. With 18 minutes left, passes from Abou Diaby and then Fabregas put Flamini in possession 30 yards from the target and he sent a superb drive high past Given.
ARSENAL: Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Senderos, Clichy, Diaby (Silva 77), Fabregas, Flamini, Hleb, Adebayor (Walcott 82), Eduardo (Bendtner 71). Subs Not Used: Lehmann, Justin Hoyte. Booked: Hleb. Goals: Adebayor 40, Flamini 72, Fabregas 80.
NEWCASTLE UTD: Given, Carr, Taylor, Cacapa, N'Zogbia, Milner (Ameobi 73), Butt, Rozehnal (Barton 57), Duff, Smith, Owen. Subs Not Used: Harper, Edgar, LuaLua. Booked: N'Zogbia, Owen, Cacapa.
Referee: M Riley (Yorkshire).
