Arsenal 3: Henry 17, 79 (pen); Gilberto 66
Newcastle Utd 2: Robert 25, Bernard 70

United:  Given, O'Brien, Bramble, Hughes, Bernard, Jenas (Ameobi 88), Bowyer (Speed 71), Dyer, Bellamy, Shearer, Robert (Ambrose 80) Subs (not used): Caig, Griffin

Arsenal: Lehmann, Lauren, Toure, Keown, Cole, Parlour, Silva, Vieira, Ljungberg,  Henry, Wiltord Subs:  Pires, Edu, Cygan, Aliadiere, Stack

Referee: Mike Riley

SIR Bobby Robson made one change to the side that beat NAC Breda in midweek, with Lee Bowyer replacing Gary Speed in the centre of midfield.

Arsenal started brightly, and Cole had a shot from an angle inside the first two minutes which Given did well to parry.

A minute later at the other end Gilberto's foul on Dyer saw United awarded a free kick, but when Robert swung the ball in Martin Keown did well to make the clearance.

Parlour then treid his luck from distance after a good Arsenal move down the right, Given made another parried block to deny Henry moments later as Arsenal looked for an early goal.

Wiltord had a great chance to break the deadlock on 17 minutes when Henry slid the ball across the face of goal after beating Hughes, but the French striker missed his kick and the chance went begging.

But a minute later the home side went in front when Bramble missed the ball when trying to clear Lauren's cross, and a grateful Henry was at the back post to gobble up the chance.

Both sides traded half chances after Arsenal went in front, and after Vieira limped off to be replaced by Edu it was Newcastle who got back on level terms when Dyer crossed the ball into the six yard box from the right and Robert had the simple tap in in front of the North Bank.

United won three corners in quick succession as they tried to get their noses in front, then a powerful drive from Bernard was well held by Lehmann in The Gunners goal just after the half hour.

Henry tried his luck from 25 yards on the stroke of half time after finding space for a shot, but Given was relieved to see the effort sail just over the crossbar.

Four minutes after the restart United had a let off when Ljungberg picked up the ball in space on the left hand side of the box. His deft chip over the advancing Given looked as though it was going in, but it came back off the post.  
  
Edu's 30 yard free kick flew over the bar after Bramble fouled Henry, then Henry had a shot blocked by O'Brien after a good move down the right.

On 65 minutes Arsenal went ahead for the second time of the evening. Robert's foul on Ljungberg earned the Frenchman a booking, and when Pires whipped the ball in Gilberto rose highest in a crowded box to bullet home a header. 

But amazingly Newcastle levelled again within five minutes, and it was Bernard on target with a super strike. Dyer made a great run across midfield and fed the ball into the left side of the box when the advancing Bernard smashed home an angled drive that gave Lehmann no chance and sent the travelling fans wild with delight.

Cygan and Shearer then both forced saves out of the goalkeepers before Robert saw a 20 yard drive blocked by Wiltord.

On 79 minutes Pires swung in another corner from the right, and referee Mike Riley adjudged that Jenas had used a hand in his attempts to clear the ball.

The Magpies players were furious, but protests fell on deaf ears and Henry kept his cool to beat Given with a neat chip down the middle of the goal to make it 3-2.

A minute later Sir Bobby threw on Ambrose in place of Robert, then Jenas made way for Ameobi as United tried without success to snatch a point in the closing stages.