Gunners silence Magpies

Arsenal 3, Newcastle 2

Henry had earlier put Arsenal ahead only for Laurent Robert to equalise and the Gunners squandered a second advantage when Olivier Bernard quickly cancelled out Gilberto Silva's header. However, with just 10 minutes left, referee Mike Riley penalised Jermaine Jenas for handball and Henry was on hand to fire Arsenal to victory after a week of off-pitch controversy.

The visitors went behind after just 19 minutes as Thierry Henry capitalised on a shocking error by Titus Bramble, but Robert hit back shortly after Patrick Vieira had gone off injured.

The rain did little to help either side keep their feet, although Arsenal continued to press and their pressure eventually told, but only because of a mistake by centre-back Titus Bramble.

The Newcastle defender embarrassingly failed to even make contact with Lauren's routine cross on 18 minutes and allowed the ball to run to Henry, who made no mistake from close range at the far post.

Arsenal nevertheless suffered a significant blow when Vieira limped off after just 25 minutes and was replaced in central midfield by Edu.

Just a minute later and Newcastle were level as Arsenal's defence, which had previously looked imposing, was suddenly torn apart with ease.

Kieron Dyer beat Keown to the by-line to cut the ball back and Laurent Robert was on hand having nipped ahead of both Lauren and Edu to force a close-range effort over the line.

However, with Jermaine Jenas in particularly impressive form in a central midfield now missing Vieira, Newcastle were holding their own and Jens Lehmann had to cling onto Bernard's crisp shot.

However, Gilberto Silva did well not to go down in the penalty area on a penetrating forward burst before cutting the back towards Wiltord, only for Newcastle to clear just in time, and Henry curled an effort just over the top. Referee Mike Riley was the man handed the responsibility of keeping charge of a fixture which itself exploded with controversy two seasons ago as Newcastle won 3-1.

However, he adopted a pragmatic attitude in the opening 45 minutes, choosing to warn players for badly-timed tackles in the slippery conditions, rather than being rushed into booking them.

At least that meant Arsenal avoided any more yellow cards, but the fates were still conspiring against them.

When Andy O'Brien's slip enabled Wiltord to put Ljungberg clean through, the Swede's chip may have beaten goalkeeper Given but rebounded off the post.

Arsenal were then forced into a second substitution soon afterwards, with Pascal Cygan replacing the injured Cole at left-back. Lehmann had to race quickly off his line to intercept as Craig Bellamy threatened to scamper onto a loose back-pass.

Wenger had seen enough and, even with almost half an hour left, he still took the gamble of making his final substitution, with Pires replacing Parlour to a chorus of dismay from the Arsenal fans.

The first booking of the night finally came on 66 minutes, when Robert was penalised for a mistimed tackle on Ljungberg.

The Swede required treatment to his ankle following that challenge, which was a worrying sight for Wenger with no replacements left.

However, his mood was immediately lifted as Pires swung over the ensuing free-kick and Gilberto powered home a header to put Arsenal back ahead.

Ljungberg was able to continue, but Arsenal again allowed their lead to slip as Dyer opened up the defence a second time with a superb pass that allowed Bernard to rifle a shot inside the near post.

Newcastle were again buoyant, with Robert's free-kick flashing past the far post, but a refereeing decision this time came to Arsenal's rescue.

Having conceded a penalty in the final minute at Old Trafford, only for Ruud van Nistelrooy to strike the crossbar, Arsenal were given their own spot-kick with 10 minutes left at Highbury.

Jenas was aggrieved at the decision, believing that he was pushed as he handled a cross inside his area, but referee Riley was unmoved.

Henry stepped up and, despite having missed his last penalty against Inter Milan, nonchalantly chipped his kick down the centre of the goal to allow Arsenal to finally emerge triumphant.

ARSENAL: Lehmann, Lauren, Toure, Keown, Cole, Parlour, Silva, Vieira, Ljungberg, Henry, Wiltord.

NEWCASTLE: Given, O'Brien, Bramble, Hughes, Bernard, Jenas, Bowyer, Dyer, Robert, Bellamy, Shearer.