Newcastle United against Arsenal

Toure concedes a throw, but nothing come of the pressure, much to fans' frustration.

Newcastle pile forward

Souness is hurrying proceedings - pointing to his watch as a throw is taken.

Henry falls under pressure from Bramble

Pires goes down on the halfway line.

Bernard tries to fire in a cross but it's deflected. Meanwhile, Ljungberg is down getting treatment.

Finally a change is on the cards for Newcastle: N'Zogbia warming up.

Just over five minutes to go and unless the second half finishes the way the first did, Newcastle don't look like they can get a goal.

A shot from distance flies a few feet wide of Given's goal - they will be dead buried if the let another one in.

Jenas, the Magpies skipper in Shearer's absence, is having a decent gaming in the centre, but there is still some guile missing for Newcastle.

Arsenal applying pressure as they try to run down the clock

Souness really needs to make a change - nothing happening.

Clichy is making an immediate difference getting forward

And here's a change for Arsenal - Van Persie goes off and on comes Gael Clichy.

Robert fires the ball into the wall at a fearsome pace. Moving the kick forward did help Newcastle then.

Ljungberg delays the taking of the freekick and the ref brings the kick forward to edge of the area. Lauren is back on.

Jenas with a half chance - the ball breaks to Bowyer who wins a foul after diving under a challenge from Van Persie.

Arsenal clear

Booked he maybe, but he might be off the pitch through injury. Meanwhile, Newcastle have a freekick in a dangerous area.

Lauren went in on Bernard and will get a booking for his troubles

Painful looking clash between Lauren and Bernard.

Hughes does well to intercept a one-two pass to Cole from Henry - solid defending

Great play by Robert - he tears down the right and fires in a ball from the byline into the penalty area, but the pass evades Bowyer and Bellamy. Great move but the final ball was missing. Frustrating.

Arsenal play keep ball - until that is Toure fires a pass into touch

Arsenal switch play to the back - spreading the ball about.

Time for Milner Mr Souness? Newcastle are looking dangerous but are missing something, how about a change?

Arsenal break down the left with Cole - he rips up the pitch before reversing a pass to Van Persie who is off the pace, fluffs his first touch and Newcastle clear.

Van Persie gets a booking for a mis-timed tackle. No malice in the attempt but Taylor was felled late.

Vieira clears the corner and Van Persie breaks. He links up with Henry, but Van Persie's shot is poor.

Robert lines-up a corner as Newcastle press.

Ironic cheers from the Toon Army after the ref gives a freekick for a handball - Pires the offender

Dyer and Robert probe the Arsenal right

Bramble and Hughes do well to smother an attack spearheaded by Henry

Newcastle have a shot at goal saved by Almunia - bright stuff from the home team

A good spell from Newcastle ends with Taylor overhitting his cross.

Craig Bellamy fails to get on the end of a decent ball down the right from Dyer - Bellamy has been quiet tonight, perhaps Milner will be on for him in aw hile.

Flamini finds himself in acres of space just outside the Newcastle penalty area, but instead of shooting he lifts a pass to Van Persie who fouls the defender - wasted opportunity.

The freekick from Robert is poor, but it breaks to Bowyer who lashes a drive wide of goal

Robert skips away from a dangerous tackle from Lauren, before the referee Steve Bennett calls play back for a freekick.

An overhit pass from Lauren leaves Ljungberg doing the splits on the turf. He smiles, the crowd wince. Bernard takes the resulting throw.

Shocking delivery and Arsenal break.

Newcastle win a corner thanks to Bowyer's workrate.

A quiet start to the half - Given dribbles the ball out of his area before launching an ugly long ball to the line of Newcastle attackers on the Arsenal 18-yard line. Not surprisingly this unexciting attack was swatted away. Poor from Newcastle.

Henry shows some sweet skills to carve open Newcastle's defence and create a chance for Ljungberg

And we're back underway at St James Park

Souness will need to address creative problems during the break: at times the Toon looked devoid of ideas. However, Arsenal will continue the pressure and look to kill off the game. Newcastle must concentrate and make sure they are alert to moments of luck, like the one which just gifted Arsenal their goal.

Well, Arsenal don?t really deserve the advantage. While they started brighter Newcastle fought their way back into the game and had a claim for a penalty. But Newcastle are guilty of switching off and paid the price by allowing Vieira to snatch a goal from nothing.

And that's the final action of the half!

The ball dropped for Vieira after ricocheting off two Newcastle defenders. From 8-yards outside the penalty area, he looked up and volleyed the ball straight at goal, and Given was left helpless as the shot dip over him. Exquisite strike.

A goal from nothing for Vieira!!!!!

One minute of time added on by the ref.

Halftime approaching and the players seem to have shifted down a gear.

A Magpies' corner is cleared, but it has been their best spell so far in the game.

Newcastle have grown in confidence in the last few minutes - more possession and they look threatening.

A booking for Cole - a big cheer greets the card! He finally goes into the book for a foul on Bellamy. Not before time - persistant unsporting play. No need.

And Cole is involved in more contentious action - this time he handles the ball in the area while fending off an attack. It should have been a penalty, but the ref and linesman see nothing wrong. Souness will fume when he sees the replay!

Cole again fells Bellamy - an un-cultured shove, not a tackle. The crowd boo. They want a booking and they are right to ask for it.

Given pulls off a save, but concedes a corner following a fine long-range strike from Van Persie.

As play gets back underway who rejoins the game? Lauren. Say no more.

Lauren is down and seem to have a knock on his right leg. Is he really hurt? Let's see...

Newcastle just not slick or quick enough on the ball. They seem to need too much time, too many touches on the ball, and Arsenal are denying them at all times.

Newcastle threaten to break through the Arsenal rearguard, but are soon repelled. Back to the drawing board at halftime for Mr Souness.

Yet another corner for Arsenal, this time Ljungberg and Vieira combine to meet the ball, but they get in eachothers' way and the ball is over the bar.

Oh dear, spoke too soon. Taylor gets a booking for another full-on tackle on Pires, this time deemed over the top by the ref who reaches for his card. The fans don't like it, but why would they?!

Newcastle Steven Taylor gets the biggest cheer of the night for a full-blooded but fair tackle on Pires.

The Toon finally break foward after a few torrid minutes under the cosh. Ameobi seems full of confidence and has a shot - but it's saved.

Excellent work by Ljungberg. He hunted down Bowyer, then Robert to ensure that Newcastle squander possession in their own half.

The Gunners lose the ball and again Given has it, but again his hoofed pass is gathered by the men in red and Arsenal start pinging the ball around looking for a weakness to exploit.

Arsenal starting to spray the passes around, probing openings left and right. Looking ominous.

Newcastle struggling to play through the Arsenal centre, but not having any luck going over the top with long clearances and hopeful long-balls. A need for invention.

Finally Given has the ball and launches a huge clearance aimed at Ameobi. Sadly for Shola, he's out-numbered and can't gather or hold the ball with the close attention of Campbell and Cole.

Another Gunners corner. And again it is over hit, but not properly cleared and Newcastle are on the ropes.

Almost 25 minutes in and Bowyer is getting a bit tetchy. Things going against him and his solution is to barge into Pires, who doesn't even have the ball! Ludicrous. Freekick - still no cards.

Things just not going for Newcastle, Bowyer and then Robert losing the ball with mis-read and over hit passes.

Lauren gets a talking to for a cynical foul - no booking just a word from the ref.

A Newcastle corner comes to nothing after the wise heads in the Arsenal penalty area clear with complete ease.

And there's the other side of Cole. A Freekick against him for nasty hack at Bellamy's shins. That's why neutrals get frustrated with Cole; he's a great player but has an unsporting streak which many find distasteful.

Great play by Cole. He cut out a great defence-splitting pass aimed at Dyer. The full-back chested the ball and fed it clear to Pires before chasing past his team-mate to offer an option out wide.

Plenty of chances in the game so far, but somehow no goals!

Another half-chance for Dyer after Ameobi rose high to win a header from Robert's deep cross. The ball dropped for Dyer but he couldn't get a shot away.

A decent quick break from Newcastle - Dyer almost gets a chance, but the pass to him was too slow

Newcastle clear and swap midfield, but they lose the ball and Henry almost's gets a header on target from the counter

Another corner after Flamini's shot was deflected out.

Van Persie lofts the ball toward Campbell, who rises high and heads at goal only for Ameobi to clear of the line.

A fourth corner for Arsenal is conceded by Bernard.

Van Persie is flattened by the Newcastle midfield. And a moment later Pires is decked by Bowyer - Newcastle trying to boss the centre.

Robert switches flanks to float in the kick, but it's cleared. Should have done better.

Foul given rightly against Cole for a foul on Bellamy. Freekick on the left touchline in an advanced position.

The home supporters, as ever, are in fine voice, cheering on their team.

Great effort from Ameobi flies just wide of Almunia's goal - a sign that Newcastle have the potential to threaten Arsenal

Campbell displays the weakness in his game - that being that he thins he's David Beckham. He's just launched the most outrageous long-ball into acres of space, nowhere near a colleague. Ridiculous, delusional play.

Ameobi is muscled off the ball chasing down a hopeful pass

More danger for Newcastle as Arsenal press. Henry and Van Persie again threatening. A few marginal offside calls go Arsenal's way - danger signs for the home side

Van Persie drives the ball into the area, but Henry fails to control with his heel and Newcastle breath a sigh of relief

A third corner after Newcastle again fail to clear.

The first corner is flighted in, but runs out for another corner ball at the other side of the pitch.

Given pulls off a good save a long way off his line from Van Persie's strike. Corner.

Robert powers down the left side. The Frenchman is full of energy, but the move breaks down.

Freekick to the Magpies - Dyer hobbles away from the tackle. As does Vieira. Early worries for the bench.

And we're underway, with Newcastle mounting an early attack down the right flank.

Before the game the players and fans will observe a minutes silence for the victims of the tsunamis which have devastated South-east Asia.

For Arsenal Ashley Cole is back, while Almunia continues in goal. They line-up in the standard 4-4-2.

Still no Shearer for Newcastle, but they go for an attacking 4-3-3. However, the forward-minded Robert and Bellamy are likely to drop back into the middle to create a 4-5-1 when the Magpies are without the ball.

The final Premiership game of 2004 is upon us. Given the quality of the two teams and the amazing support for at St James Park, Arsenal versus Newcastle should prove to be a fitting farewell to what has been a superb sporting year...

And for Arsenal: Almunia, Lauren, Toure, Campbell, Cole, Ljungberg,Vieira, Flamini, Pires, Henry, Van Persie. And on the subs bench for the Gunners: Fabregas, Senderos, Pennant, Clichy, Lehmann.

The Newcastle line-up for tonight's big game: Given, Taylor, Bramble, Hughes, Bernard, Dyer, Bowyer, Jenas, Robert, Bellamy, Ameobi. And warming the bench: N'Zogbia, Milner, Brittain, Ramage, Harper.

Ljungberg delays the taking of the freekick and the ref brings the kick forward to edge of the area. Lauren is back on.

Jenas with a half chance - the ball breaks to Bowyer who wins a foul after diving under a challenge from Van Persie.

Arsenal clear

Booked he maybe, but he might be off the pitch through injury. Meanwhile, Newcastle have a freekick in a dangerous area.

Lauren went in on Bernard and will get a booking for his troubles

Painful looking clash between Lauren and Bernard.

Hughes does well to intercept a one-two pass to Cole from Henry - solid defending

Great play by Robert - he tears down the right and fires in a ball from the byline into the penalty area, but the pass evades Bowyer and Bellamy. Great move but the final ball was missing. Frustrating.

Arsenal play keep ball - until that is Toure fires a pass into touch

Arsenal switch play to the back - spreading the ball about.

Time for Milner Mr Souness? Newcastle are looking dangerous but are missing something, how about a change?

Arsenal break down the left with Cole - he rips up the pitch before reversing a pass to Van Persie who is off the pace, fluffs his first touch and Newcastle clear.

Van Persie gets a booking for a mis-timed tackle. No malice in the attempt but Taylor was felled late.

Vieira clears the corner and Van Persie breaks. He links up with Henry, but Van Persie's shot is poor.

Robert lines-up a corner as Newcastle press.

Ironic cheers from the Toon Army after the ref gives a freekick for a handball - Pires the offender

Dyer and Robert probe the Arsenal right

Bramble and Hughes do well to smother an attack spearheaded by Henry

Newcastle have a shot at goal saved by Almunia - bright stuff from the home team

A good spell from Newcastle ends with Taylor overhitting his cross.

Craig Bellamy fails to get on the end of a decent ball down the right from Dyer - Bellamy has been quiet tonight, perhaps Milner will be on for him in aw hile.

Flamini finds himself in acres of space just outside the Newcastle penalty area, but instead of shooting he lifts a pass to Van Persie who fouls the defender - wasted opportunity.

The freekick from Robert is poor, but it breaks to Bowyer who lashes a drive wide of goal

Robert skips away from a dangerous tackle from Lauren, before the referee Steve Bennett calls play back for a freekick.

An overhit pass from Lauren leaves Ljungberg doing the splits on the turf. He smiles, the crowd wince. Bernard takes the resulting throw.

Shocking delivery and Arsenal break.

Newcastle win a corner thanks to Bowyer's workrate.

A quiet start to the half - Given dribbles the ball out of his area before launching an ugly long ball to the line of Newcastle attackers on the Arsenal 18-yard line. Not surprisingly this unexciting attack was swatted away. Poor from Newcastle.

Henry shows some sweet skills to carve open Newcastle's defence and create a chance for Ljungberg

And we're back underway at St James Park

Souness will need to address creative problems during the break: at times the Toon looked devoid of ideas. However, Arsenal will continue the pressure and look to kill off the game. Newcastle must concentrate and make sure they are alert to moments of luck, like the one which just gifted Arsenal their goal.

Well, Arsenal don?t really deserve the advantage. While they started brighter Newcastle fought their way back into the game and had a claim for a penalty. But Newcastle are guilty of switching off and paid the price by allowing Vieira to snatch a goal from nothing.

And that's the final action of the half!

The ball dropped for Vieira after ricocheting off two Newcastle defenders. From 8-yards outside the penalty area, he looked up and volleyed the ball straight at goal, and Given was left helpless as the shot dip over him. Exquisite strike.

A goal from nothing for Vieira!!!!!

One minute of time added on by the ref.

Halftime approaching and the players seem to have shifted down a gear.

A Magpies' corner is cleared, but it has been their best spell so far in the game.

Newcastle have grown in confidence in the last few minutes - more possession and they look threatening.

A booking for Cole - a big cheer greets the card! He finally goes into the book for a foul on Bellamy. Not before time - persistant unsporting play. No need.

And Cole is involved in more contentious action - this time he handles the ball in the area while fending off an attack. It should have been a penalty, but the ref and linesman see nothing wrong. Souness will fume when he sees the replay!

Cole again fells Bellamy - an un-cultured shove, not a tackle. The crowd boo. They want a booking and they are right to ask for it.

Given pulls off a save, but concedes a corner following a fine long-range strike from Van Persie.

As play gets back underway who rejoins the game? Lauren. Say no more.

Lauren is down and seem to have a knock on his right leg. Is he really hurt? Let's see...

Newcastle just not slick or quick enough on the ball. They seem to need too much time, too many touches on the ball, and Arsenal are denying them at all times.

Newcastle threaten to break through the Arsenal rearguard, but are soon repelled. Back to the drawing board at halftime for Mr Souness.

Yet another corner for Arsenal, this time Ljungberg and Vieira combine to meet the ball, but they get in eachothers' way and the ball is over the bar.

Oh dear, spoke too soon. Taylor gets a booking for another full-on tackle on Pires, this time deemed over the top by the ref who reaches for his card. The fans don't like it, but why would they?!

Newcastle Steven Taylor gets the biggest cheer of the night for a full-blooded but fair tackle on Pires.

The Toon finally break foward after a few torrid minutes under the cosh. Ameobi seems full of confidence and has a shot - but it's saved.

Excellent work by Ljungberg. He hunted down Bowyer, then Robert to ensure that Newcastle squander possession in their own half.

The Gunners lose the ball and again Given has it, but again his hoofed pass is gathered by the men in red and Arsenal start pinging the ball around looking for a weakness to exploit.

Arsenal starting to spray the passes around, probing openings left and right. Looking ominous.

Newcastle struggling to play through the Arsenal centre, but not having any luck going over the top with long clearances and hopeful long-balls. A need for invention.

Finally Given has the ball and launches a huge clearance aimed at Ameobi. Sadly for Shola, he's out-numbered and can't gather or hold the ball with the close attention of Campbell and Cole.

Another Gunners corner. And again it is over hit, but not properly cleared and Newcastle are on the ropes.

Almost 25 minutes in and Bowyer is getting a bit tetchy. Things going against him and his solution is to barge into Pires, who doesn't even have the ball! Ludicrous. Freekick - still no cards.

Things just not going for Newcastle, Bowyer and then Robert losing the ball with mis-read and over hit passes.

Lauren gets a talking to for a cynical foul - no booking just a word from the ref.

A Newcastle corner comes to nothing after the wise heads in the Arsenal penalty area clear with complete ease.

And there's the other side of Cole. A Freekick against him for nasty hack at Bellamy's shins. That's why neutrals get frustrated with Cole; he's a great player but has an unsporting streak which many find distasteful.

Great play by Cole. He cut out a great defence-splitting pass aimed at Dyer. The full-back chested the ball and fed it clear to Pires before chasing past his team-mate to offer an option out wide.

Plenty of chances in the game so far, but somehow no goals!

Another half-chance for Dyer after Ameobi rose high to win a header from Robert's deep cross. The ball dropped for Dyer but he couldn't get a shot away.

A decent quick break from Newcastle - Dyer almost gets a chance, but the pass to him was too slow

Newcastle clear and swap midfield, but they lose the ball and Henry almost's gets a header on target from the counter

Another corner after Flamini's shot was deflected out.

Van Persie lofts the ball toward Campbell, who rises high and heads at goal only for Ameobi to clear of the line.

A fourth corner for Arsenal is conceded by Bernard.

Van Persie is flattened by the Newcastle midfield. And a moment later Pires is decked by Bowyer - Newcastle trying to boss the centre.

Robert switches flanks to float in the kick, but it's cleared. Should have done better.

Foul given rightly against Cole for a foul on Bellamy. Freekick on the left touchline in an advanced position.

The home supporters, as ever, are in fine voice, cheering on their team.

Great effort from Ameobi flies just wide of Almunia's goal - a sign that Newcastle have the potential to threaten Arsenal

Campbell displays the weakness in his game - that being that he thins he's David Beckham. He's just launched the most outrageous long-ball into acres of space, nowhere near a colleague. Ridiculous, delusional play.

Ameobi is muscled off the ball chasing down a hopeful pass

More danger for Newcastle as Arsenal press. Henry and Van Persie again threatening. A few marginal offside calls go Arsenal's way - danger signs for the home side

Van Persie drives the ball into the area, but Henry fails to control with his heel and Newcastle breath a sigh of relief

A third corner after Newcastle again fail to clear.

The first corner is flighted in, but runs out for another corner ball at the other side of the pitch.

Given pulls off a good save a long way off his line from Van Persie's strike. Corner.

Robert powers down the left side. The Frenchman is full of energy, but the move breaks down.

Freekick to the Magpies - Dyer hobbles away from the tackle. As does Vieira. Early worries for the bench.

And we're underway, with Newcastle mounting an early attack down the right flank.

Before the game the players and fans will observe a minutes silence for the victims of the tsunamis which have devastated South-east Asia.

For Arsenal Ashley Cole is back, while Almunia continues in goal. They line-up in the standard 4-4-2.

Still no Shearer for Newcastle, but they go for an attacking 4-3-3. However, the forward-minded Robert and Bellamy are likely to drop back into the middle to create a 4-5-1 when the Magpies are without the ball.

The final Premiership game of 2004 is upon us. Given the quality of the two teams and the amazing support for at St James Park, Arsenal versus Newcastle should prove to be a fitting farewell to what has been a superb sporting year...

And for Arsenal: Almunia, Lauren, Toure, Campbell, Cole, Ljungberg,Vieira, Flamini, Pires, Henry, Van Persie. And on the subs bench for the Gunners: Fabregas, Senderos, Pennant, Clichy, Lehmann.

The Newcastle line-up for tonight's big game: Given, Taylor, Bramble, Hughes, Bernard, Dyer, Bowyer, Jenas, Robert, Bellamy, Ameobi. And warming the bench: N'Zogbia, Milner, Brittain, Ramage, Harper.