Newcastle Utd 0 Arsenal 0:In the wake of Arsenal's historic home defeat to West Ham last Saturday, Arsene Wenger described this fixture as "very urgent". But his team are tired right now, and weary men do not listen well.
This was a suitably soporific display, but at least there was no fourth consecutive Premiership loss for the Arsenal manager, and the draw between Bolton and Everton was another small blessing. Those two results keep the Gunners two points ahead of Bolton, who visit Arsenal on Saturday.
From somewhere they must find a goal. This was their first 0-0 draw for 15 months, and it leaves them with one goal in six hours and that from William Gallas in the 4-1 defeat at Liverpool.
"I feel our confidence has dropped a little bit," Wenger said, "and the first consequence of that is that you don't score as many goals. But I'm confident. We will find the resources. Saturday is an important game and I'm confident that in front of our fans we can do it. For the club it (the Champions League) is very important, we are used to being there and we want to be there again."
Wenger felt Newcastle were "cautious" yesterday, and he was correct. "I feel we wanted to win the game and we maybe could have nicked a 1-0," he said. "In fairness they could have done the same."
But Newcastle have their own agenda, especially at home, and this was must-not-lose for them, even after winning at Sheffield United last Saturday. The last time Glenn Roeder's team scored at home in the Premiership was on February 10th.
"It's a little concern," Roeder said, before confirming the well-being of Michael Owen and Shola Ameobi. Newcastle had considered playing both in the reserve game against Manchester United tomorrow, but it was problematical logistically. "The fact that we thought about doing that shows how well they're doing."
Newcastle lost goalkeeper Shay Given on 25 minutes with a groin injury. Roeder believes 's latest injury is related to the bowel tear he suffered at West Ham earlier in the season.
Obafemi Martins was partnered by Kieron Dyer yesterday - at least until Dyer limped off just after half-time with a hamstring injury diagnosed as "slight" - but the Nigerian had another of his misfiring days.
He has scored 17 goals in his first season in England, but when broken down six came in the Uefa Cup and only one of the league goals has been against a top-four club.
Martins did not have a single chance here in an apology of a match. The first half could be described as unrewarding; the second could be described as unrewarding.
The urgency that Wenger had called for was evident spasmodically early on, Abou Diaby trying to generate his touch-and-go attacking with Emmanuel Adebayor.
But Cesc Fabregas was often deep, and while Alexander Hleb was skilful, the overall effect, as Arsenal supporters know from experience, was not dynamic.
Newcastle may not be great defensively but they had the wherewithal to crowd out Arsenal as the Londoners came forward.
Towards the end of the first half United scrambled a couple of opportunities, Damien Duff worrying Jens Lehmann after a good run from Nicky Butt. Gilberto Silva made a saving block on that occasion, and two minutes before the interval another chance fell to Duff, who miscued a left-foot shot from only seven yards.
The second half was no better until, in minute 84, Arsenal forced Nolberto Solano to clear twice off his line, first from Gilberto then from a deflection off Oguchi Onyewu.
Newcastle then claimed - understandably - that Diaby grabbed Onyewu at a free-kick in the 89th minute.
"Penalty?" asked Roeder. "That's the understatement of the year."
On the final whistle the crowd dispersed in a collective mutter. Among them was Steve McClaren - with Tord Grip sitting beside him. Presumably McClaren was here to observe Newcastle, as Arsenal did not have an Englishman in their 16. The England coach knows enough about Dyer by now, and Butt, so perhaps his interest centred on either James Milner or Steven Taylor.
Guardian Service
NEWCASTLE UTD: Given (Harper 25), Solano, Onyewu, Taylor, Carr, Milner, Butt, Emre (Luque 88), Duff, Martins, Dyer (N'Zogbia 52). Subs not used: Bramble, Ramage. Booked: Taylor.
ARSENAL: Lehmann, Eboue, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Hleb (Julio Baptista 61), Fabregas, Silva, Diaby, Ljungberg, Adebayor (Aliadiere 71). Subs not used: Almunia, Senderos, Denilson. Booked: Ljungberg, Gallas.
Referee: H Webb (S Yorkshire).
