Arsenal against Newcastle United

The fans are streaming out of the Emirates.

The clock's ticking, and there are few signs of progress for Arsenal.

Squillaci just manages to hold off Ranger as Newcastle look to counter.

Carroll knocks down for Ranger, who attempts a spectacular overhead. It is, of course, well over the bar.

Fabregas slips the ball through for Bendtner but Krul is alert and claims well.

Arshavin fires over a difficult chance from Van Persie's flick. Time is running out.

Barton fires a deep free-kick straight at goal. Easy save for Fabianski.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Amoebi comes off to be replaced by Ranger.

The corner is played back to Arshavin, who moves into the box and cross for Fabregas. Cesc sends a diving header towards goal, but Krul saves.

Arshavin puts in another cross from the left, but Tiote heads behind for a corner.

Krul is hobbling but seems to be intending to carry on.

Krul is down. Worrying for Newcastle.

Nolan blocks off a Fabregas shot from distance. It comes back to the Arsenal captain and he puts in a cross that Krul struggles with, but Newcastle get away with it.

Tiote heads clear at the near post.

Arsenal break but Gutierrez blocks off Walcott's cross. Corner kick.

Barton sends a long free-kick in but Fabianski claims.

Krul fails to deal with Fabregas' corner, but Newcastle get it clear.

Coloccini gets a fine tackle in to deny Arshavin as he weaves his way into the area.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Wilshere comes off as Wenger looks to Bendtner to add some more firepower.

The ball bounces through to Walcott as Fabregas chests it on, but he's offside.

Simpson gives away possession cheaply and Arshavin fires the ball across the face of goal, but there's no one there to connect.

Carroll fires off a powerful volley from the corner of the area. He connects well enough, but it's well wide of the target.

The ball bounces loose and Barton could get onto it, but he's a little slow to react and the chance is lost.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Fabregas gets a booking for a lunging tackle.

Williamson heads over the bar.

Carroll blazes is miles over the bar, but it appears it took a deflection. Newcastle corner.

Gutierrez sends his cross into Sagna's face and wins a corner.

Wilshere trots off the field for a bit of treatment, but he looks to have recovered.

Wilshere looks to be in significant pain after a clash with Barton, but the Newcastle man didn't seem to do a lot wrong.

Newcastle give the ball away in midfield and Arsenal break at pace, but Arshavin's final ball isn't quite sharp enough.

Enrique uses a burst of pace and flicks the ball in for Nolan, but the midfielder's in an offside position.

Walcott uses his pace down the right, but Enrique's too clever for him and takes the ball.

Clichy sends a cross in from the left, but Krul gathers comfortably.

There's an air of excitement around the Emirates as Van Persie returns, but Newcastle do their best to puncture the nood by dispossessing Walcott before racing away down the left. Ameobi's cross is blocked.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Van Persie makes his return in place of the disappointing Chamakh.

Nasri's not had his best game, and Chamakh might be next to follow after his poor showing so far.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Nasri comes off to be replaced by Arshavin.

Barton attempts a hugely optimistic drive from distance, but it's well wide of goal.

Ameobi fires an air shot on the edge of the area before putting in a deep cross to the far post, but nothing comes of it.

Carroll tries to use his pace and power to burst free, but he's outnumbered. It's been a lively start to the second half.

Song puts the ball across the face of goal and Chamakh stretches, but he can't turn it home with the goal gaping!

Barton lobs enough into the area for Carroll and it looks briefly like a rerun of the goal, but this time Fabianski claims successfully.

Walcott smashes the ball against the bar from a difficult angle after Wilshere's throughball. Chamakh was in his way, so he deserves great credit for the effort.

The free-kick is headed clear.

Arsenal have a free-kick and Fabregas will look to loft the ball into the box.

Newcastle get the second half underway.

We'll be back with all the updates from the second half.

It's half-time, and a section of the Arsenal fans boo their team from the field. It's been pretty poor stuff from the hosts by their standards.

The goalkeeper is nowhere near it as Carroll rises to power into the empty net.

Carroll rises to head home a deep Barton free-kick, but there will be serious questions about Fabianski.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL FOR NEWCASTLE!</b>

Gutierrez, who's had a poor first half, fails to control a crossfield pass.

A gap appears to open up in front of Walcott, but he chooses to go wide and ends up laying it back.

The corner is poor and Newcastle clear. We're finally seeing a bit of action as the half draws to a close.

Newcastle break, then Arsenal break and win a corner.

Fabregas centres to Nasri from the corner and it takes a fine save from Krul to deny him.

Arsenal win it back and Fabregas fires in a shot from out wide, but they have to settle for a corner.

Fabregas works a little bit of magic and breaks through a sturdy Newcastle backline, but Chamakh fails to control it and Newcastle clear.

Wilshere looks to find Chamakh with a long ball over the top, but he's offside.

Nolan looks to find a way into the box but he, and then Ameobi, is crowded out. Arsenal break but Simpson deals with it. This game has been pretty poor so far.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Tiote is booked for a pull-back.

Wretched touch from Chamakh and Enrique is able to nip in and dispossess him.

Barton lofts the free-kick into the box but it's hoofed clear.

Wilshere fouls Barton and Mike Dean's telling Fabregas to pipe down.

Alan Smith's warming up now, so maybe he won't...

Tiote looks to have a bit of cramp. He should be all right.

Tiote is down injured in the centre circle so Song puts the ball out of play.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Clichy flies in recklessly on Gutierrez and Mike Dean gives him a deserved booking.

Nasri weaves his way down the left but his pass fails to make a connection.

Arsenal win another corner, but fail to make much of that either.

Fabregas receives the ball in a dangerous position and battles to get a shot away, but Newcastle scramble it behind for a corner.

Fabregas flicks the ball out of play in uncharacteristic style. Arsenal haven't quite found their groove just yet.

Walcott receives the ball on the edge of the area but seems to kick the ball into his own leg and it's out for a goal kick.

Newcastle manage to clear the danger.

Fabregas sends the free-kick towards goal but it flicks off a Newcastle head and hits the bar! Arsenal have a corner.

Fabregas plays a pass ahead of Wilshere, and Coloccini gives away a foul in a potentially dangerous position.

Walcott threatens to race away. He's crowded out, but offloads it to Nasri, who's also crowded out. Newcastle clear.

Barton sends a long cross in for Carroll, but it's too long and Carroll ends up looking a bit silly.

Song tries to find Chamakh, but the ball comes back off the striker's heel. Arsenal are improving now.

Fabregas crosses to the far post, but Newcastle clear the danger.

Arsenal win a soft free-kick on the right for a foul by Tiote.

Enrique blocks off Sagna as he tries to send a cross in. Arsenal throw.

Nasri and Fabregas combine well and the former slips a pass through for Walcott, but even lightning quick Theo can't reach that.

Jonas goes over as he tries to burst into the area from the left, but there's no suggestion of a penalty.

Newcastle look to be going the direct route early on and trying to unsettle Arsenal. With Carroll up front, they've got a man with the presence to cause problems.

Ameobi whips in a fierce cross from the left, but a foul's given against Carroll for a push.

<b>Arsenal get the game underway!</b>

Former Gunner Sol Campbell is on the Newcastle bench.

Newcastle captain Kevin Nolan and striker Andy Carroll are both in the team, despite front-page headlines this morning featuring allegations about their private lives.

Cesc Fabregas and Alex Song return from injury while Jack Wilshere has served his three-match ban. Marouane Chamakh leads the line.

The big team news today sees Robin van Persie make an unexpected return to the Arsenal bench.

Arsene Wenger believes his side will be fully focused and <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=839641&sec=england&cc=5739" target="_blank">not allow complacency or defensive errors to derail their title hopes on Sunday</a>.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2010/1107/arsenewengersmile20101107_275x155.jpg">

Live commentary from Arsenal v Newcastle will appear here from 1330 GMT.

Barton sends a long free-kick in but Fabianski claims.

Krul fails to deal with Fabregas' corner, but Newcastle get it clear.

Coloccini gets a fine tackle in to deny Arshavin as he weaves his way into the area.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Wilshere comes off as Wenger looks to Bendtner to add some more firepower.

The ball bounces through to Walcott as Fabregas chests it on, but he's offside.

Simpson gives away possession cheaply and Arshavin fires the ball across the face of goal, but there's no one there to connect.

Carroll fires off a powerful volley from the corner of the area. He connects well enough, but it's well wide of the target.

The ball bounces loose and Barton could get onto it, but he's a little slow to react and the chance is lost.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Fabregas gets a booking for a lunging tackle.

Williamson heads over the bar.

Carroll blazes is miles over the bar, but it appears it took a deflection. Newcastle corner.

Gutierrez sends his cross into Sagna's face and wins a corner.

Wilshere trots off the field for a bit of treatment, but he looks to have recovered.

Wilshere looks to be in significant pain after a clash with Barton, but the Newcastle man didn't seem to do a lot wrong.

Newcastle give the ball away in midfield and Arsenal break at pace, but Arshavin's final ball isn't quite sharp enough.

Enrique uses a burst of pace and flicks the ball in for Nolan, but the midfielder's in an offside position.

Walcott uses his pace down the right, but Enrique's too clever for him and takes the ball.

Clichy sends a cross in from the left, but Krul gathers comfortably.

There's an air of excitement around the Emirates as Van Persie returns, but Newcastle do their best to puncture the nood by dispossessing Walcott before racing away down the left. Ameobi's cross is blocked.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Van Persie makes his return in place of the disappointing Chamakh.

Nasri's not had his best game, and Chamakh might be next to follow after his poor showing so far.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Nasri comes off to be replaced by Arshavin.

Barton attempts a hugely optimistic drive from distance, but it's well wide of goal.

Ameobi fires an air shot on the edge of the area before putting in a deep cross to the far post, but nothing comes of it.

Carroll tries to use his pace and power to burst free, but he's outnumbered. It's been a lively start to the second half.

Song puts the ball across the face of goal and Chamakh stretches, but he can't turn it home with the goal gaping!

Barton lobs enough into the area for Carroll and it looks briefly like a rerun of the goal, but this time Fabianski claims successfully.

Walcott smashes the ball against the bar from a difficult angle after Wilshere's throughball. Chamakh was in his way, so he deserves great credit for the effort.

The free-kick is headed clear.

Arsenal have a free-kick and Fabregas will look to loft the ball into the box.

Newcastle get the second half underway.

We'll be back with all the updates from the second half.

It's half-time, and a section of the Arsenal fans boo their team from the field. It's been pretty poor stuff from the hosts by their standards.

The goalkeeper is nowhere near it as Carroll rises to power into the empty net.

Carroll rises to head home a deep Barton free-kick, but there will be serious questions about Fabianski.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL FOR NEWCASTLE!</b>

Gutierrez, who's had a poor first half, fails to control a crossfield pass.

A gap appears to open up in front of Walcott, but he chooses to go wide and ends up laying it back.

The corner is poor and Newcastle clear. We're finally seeing a bit of action as the half draws to a close.

Newcastle break, then Arsenal break and win a corner.

Fabregas centres to Nasri from the corner and it takes a fine save from Krul to deny him.

Arsenal win it back and Fabregas fires in a shot from out wide, but they have to settle for a corner.

Fabregas works a little bit of magic and breaks through a sturdy Newcastle backline, but Chamakh fails to control it and Newcastle clear.

Wilshere looks to find Chamakh with a long ball over the top, but he's offside.

Nolan looks to find a way into the box but he, and then Ameobi, is crowded out. Arsenal break but Simpson deals with it. This game has been pretty poor so far.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Tiote is booked for a pull-back.

Wretched touch from Chamakh and Enrique is able to nip in and dispossess him.

Barton lofts the free-kick into the box but it's hoofed clear.

Wilshere fouls Barton and Mike Dean's telling Fabregas to pipe down.

Alan Smith's warming up now, so maybe he won't...

Tiote looks to have a bit of cramp. He should be all right.

Tiote is down injured in the centre circle so Song puts the ball out of play.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Clichy flies in recklessly on Gutierrez and Mike Dean gives him a deserved booking.

Nasri weaves his way down the left but his pass fails to make a connection.

Arsenal win another corner, but fail to make much of that either.

Fabregas receives the ball in a dangerous position and battles to get a shot away, but Newcastle scramble it behind for a corner.

Fabregas flicks the ball out of play in uncharacteristic style. Arsenal haven't quite found their groove just yet.

Walcott receives the ball on the edge of the area but seems to kick the ball into his own leg and it's out for a goal kick.

Newcastle manage to clear the danger.

Fabregas sends the free-kick towards goal but it flicks off a Newcastle head and hits the bar! Arsenal have a corner.

Fabregas plays a pass ahead of Wilshere, and Coloccini gives away a foul in a potentially dangerous position.

Walcott threatens to race away. He's crowded out, but offloads it to Nasri, who's also crowded out. Newcastle clear.

Barton sends a long cross in for Carroll, but it's too long and Carroll ends up looking a bit silly.

Song tries to find Chamakh, but the ball comes back off the striker's heel. Arsenal are improving now.

Fabregas crosses to the far post, but Newcastle clear the danger.

Arsenal win a soft free-kick on the right for a foul by Tiote.

Enrique blocks off Sagna as he tries to send a cross in. Arsenal throw.

Nasri and Fabregas combine well and the former slips a pass through for Walcott, but even lightning quick Theo can't reach that.

Jonas goes over as he tries to burst into the area from the left, but there's no suggestion of a penalty.

Newcastle look to be going the direct route early on and trying to unsettle Arsenal. With Carroll up front, they've got a man with the presence to cause problems.

Ameobi whips in a fierce cross from the left, but a foul's given against Carroll for a push.

<b>Arsenal get the game underway!</b>

Former Gunner Sol Campbell is on the Newcastle bench.

Newcastle captain Kevin Nolan and striker Andy Carroll are both in the team, despite front-page headlines this morning featuring allegations about their private lives.

Cesc Fabregas and Alex Song return from injury while Jack Wilshere has served his three-match ban. Marouane Chamakh leads the line.

The big team news today sees Robin van Persie make an unexpected return to the Arsenal bench.

Arsene Wenger believes his side will be fully focused and <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=839641&sec=england&cc=5739" target="_blank">not allow complacency or defensive errors to derail their title hopes on Sunday</a>.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2010/1107/arsenewengersmile20101107_275x155.jpg">

Live commentary from Arsenal v Newcastle will appear here from 1330 GMT.