Shear agony for soft-centred Gunners

Newcastle 1 Arsenal 0

Such is life in the soap opera that is Newcastle United.

Just a week after Aston Villa’s Gareth Barry fired an 87th-minute penalty over the crossbar which might just have cost him his job, Souness was celebrating a famous victory over Premiership aristocrats Arsenal.

It was not silky skill and outrageous flair which did for the Gunners at St James’ Park, but old-fashioned passion, commitment and healthy disrespect, qualities embodied by the Scot during his glorious playing days.

They were led by indomitable skipper Alan Shearer, who Souness described as “the grumpy old man.”

“He was really in a bad mood,” said Souness after Shearer fought a running battle with Sol Campbell, a clash which left Arsene Wenger incensed.

Shearer was fortunate to escape a booking for a late challenge on Campbell, especially after Gilberto’s 57th-minute dismissal for a second bookable offence which looked far more innocuous, but his performance was otherwise immense.

“I wasn’t aware you weren’t allowed to be physical in football,” Shearer said, a twinkle lighting up a face left battle-scarred by years of toil.

It was Shearer’s industry and will to win which set up Nolberto Solano, the midfielder dubbed “the Little Maestro” by Diego Maradona during their time together at Boca Juniors, to thump a low 82nd-minute drive past Jens Lehmann to clinch the points.

However, Newcastle were indebted to the drive given to them by the tireless Scott Parker, who had to be helped to the dressing room 17 minutes from time after being left dazed by collisions with first Lehmann and then Kolo Toure.

“He was sensational and he has been ever since he got here, to be honest,” said Shearer. “He just gives us that bit of bite and dig you need in midfield, and there are not many better at that than him. He’s been brilliant for us.”

Had it not been for the excellence of Shay Given Arsenal may have gained a point. Negotiations over his new contract were due to start yesterday, and the Donegal man served a timely reminder of his quality to chairman Freddy Shepherd with a stunning 27th-minute save from Thierry Henry’s exquisite volley.

Arsenal were irresistible before the break, but Newcastle held on before taking the game to the visitors in the second-half.

Wenger left Tyneside having seen his side lose back-to-back Premiership games for the first time in more than three years, and he was furious with the Magpies’ physical approach.

“I’m disappointed because we have lost the game and because I feel people have now given us a reputation - if you go physically into Arsenal, they don’t win,” he said.

“I feel many go overboard now and do not allow us to play football at all, and the referees let them do it. If that is football, don’t be surprised if we go into Europe and are never allowed to do that.

“You must know what you want. Are the rules you can go first for the man when the ball is in the air and everybody decides it’s not a foul, or do we make it a judo party and maybe everybody will be happy?”

In fairness, it was not one of referee, Dermot Gallagher’s better games. Gilberto’s foul on Shola Ameobi was a borderline booking, the challenge on Jean-Alain Boumsong which earned him his red card little more than a mistimed attempt to dispossess the defender, who defeated him with an unlikely piece of skill.

In that context, Shearer was remarkably fortunate to escape punishment for his scything challenge on Campbell, and Gallagher rubbed salt into the wound in injury time when he cautioned him for dissent.

Opta Fact: Arsenal last lost back to back Premiership matches in October 2002, when they lost to Everton and Blackburn, 117 games ago.

Opta Fact: Alan Shearer’s last Premiership goal from open play at St James Park came in November 04 against Man Utd - he’s only netted twice at home since then and both have been spot-kicks.