Arsenal fail to capitalise on Robert’s sending off

Newcastle 1 Arsenal 1

Frenchman Laurent Robert’s third goal of the season was enough to clinch a draw for Bobby Robson’s men and, although it ended a run of 11 successive league victories at St James’ Park, it eased them back into third place, still eight points adrift of the Gunners and five behind second-placed Manchester United with a game in hand.

But Arsene Wenger’s side, who took the lead 10 minutes before the break through Thierry Henry’s 24th strike of the campaign, will feel they should have made more of Robert’s dismissal for two bookable offences within two minutes of his goal and with more than half an hour still to play.