Newcastle 0-0 Arsenal

By Chris Bevan BBC Sport

Newcastle 0 - 0 Arsenal

Arsenal striker Gervinho and Newcastle defender Ryan Taylor

Gervinho (left) was sent off after clashing with Joey Barton

Arsenal's difficult week continued as Gervinho was sent off on his Gunners debut and they were unable to break down a stubborn Newcastle side.

The Ivorian striker was shown a red card with 14 minutes to go when he slapped Joey Barton after the pair had tangled in the penalty area.

Arsenal, who left Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri out of their squad, had struggled to create meaningful chances.

Robin van Persie had their best opening but his shot was deflected wide.

Attention after the game is sure to focus on Barton, who was stamped on by Alex Song in an incident missed by referee Peter Walton, but went down far too easily when he clashed with Gervinho.

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Arsene Wenger bemused by Gervinho red card

The Newcastle midfielder also arguably instigated the incident when he remonstrated with Gervinho following a failed penalty appeal by the Arsenal frontman, dragging him to his feet.

But, although Gunners boss Arsene Wenger could claim it was harsh on Gervinho to see red while Barton was only booked, it must have been almost as frustrating for him to watch his side toil against an unambitious Newcastle side.

His preparations for the new season could hardly have been worse, with moves for Fabregas and Nasri, which had been rumoured all summer, beginning to look more concrete last week as the big kick-off approached.

Wenger's decision to leave out that pair, plus the absence of Jack Wilshere through injury, left the Gunners with a second-string midfield trio of Tomas Rosicky, Andrey Arshavin and Aaron Ramsey alongside Alex Song, and they quickly ran out of ideas.

Analysis

Steve Wilson BBC Match of the Day commentator

An unsatisfactory game in all sorts of ways for Arsenal today, although a point is not desperate after having a man sent off. The talking point and the headlines will be that Gervinho was shown a red card and Joey Barton was not

Before his untimely exit, Gervinho had made a lively debut, running at the Magpies defence and causing them plenty of problems, although he did fluff his lines when presented with an early shooting chance.

But, despite the Gunners being camped in the Magpies' half and out-passing their opponents, they could not turn their vastly superior possession into clear-cut chances.

Probably their best first-half chance was snuffed out by a timely challenge by Steven Taylor, who did enough to put off Van Persie after his own clearance had bounced back off Fabricio Coloccini and back into the striker's path.

Danny Simpson hacked clear off the line after Tim Krul failed to deal with Rosicky's corner but a golden opportunity went begging when Arshavin failed to free Van Persie after catching Newcastle in possession.

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Pardew defends Barton

At the other end, only Simpson's mis-hit cross caused Wojciech Szczesny any real difficulties, with the young Pole scrambling to deal with it at his near post.

The Newcastle fans, who have also seen some big names depart St James' Park in the past few months, were clearly frustrated by the lack of endeavour shown by their team before the break but their side's defending continued to deserve credit into the second half.

A whipped free-kick by Van Persie was the closest Arsenal got to breaking the deadlock, and their hopes of an opening-day victory were all but ended when Gervinho was dismissed.

To leave the north-east with a point is by no means a disaster but the performance and outcome was hardly the shot in the arm Wenger's men needed ahead of a pivotal week.

They host Liverpool in the league next weekend, in between both legs of a Champions League qualifier with Udinese in which they can afford no more hiccups.

Lineup, Bookings (9) & Substitutions (6)

Newcastle United

26 Krul
02 Coloccini Booked
05 Simpson
16 R Taylor
27 S Taylor
04 Cabaye (Lovenkrands - 81' )
07 Barton Booked
18 Gutierrez
24 Tiote Booked
19 Ba (Obertan - 46' )
23 Sh Ameobi (Best - 73' )

Substitutes

21 Forster
06 Williamson
15 Gosling
11 Lovenkrands
20 Best
25 Obertan
28 Sa Ameobi

Arsenal

13 Szczesny Booked
03 Sagna
05 Vermaelen Booked
06 Koscielny
28 Gibbs Booked
07 Rosicky Booked (Frimpong - 85' )
16 Ramsey (Djourou - 90' )
17 Song Booked
23 Arshavin (Walcott - 61' )
10 Van Persie
27 Gervinho Dismissed

Substitutes

21 Fabianski
20 Djourou
25 Jenkinson
14 Walcott
15 Oxlade-Chamberlain
26 Frimpong
29 Chamakh

Ref: Walton

Att: 46,894

Match Stats

Possession 44 56

Shots

6 9

On target

1 4

Corners

2 5

Fouls

9 11

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:56 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +4:21

Robin van Persie has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide right of the goal.

90:00 +2:20 Substitution

Substitution Aaron Ramsey goes off and Johan Djourou comes on.

90:00 +1:31

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Joey Barton from the right by-line, clearance made by Robin van Persie.

90:00 +1:25

Fabricio Coloccini delivers the ball, clearance by Laurent Koscielny.

90:00 +0:29

Free kick crossed by Joey Barton, Robin van Persie makes a clearance.

90:00 +0:29 Booking

Booking Thomas Vermaelen receives a caution.

90:00 +0:22

Leon Best fouled by Thomas Vermaelen, the ref awards a free kick.

89:37

Joey Barton produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide left of the goal.

89:28

Jonas Gutierrez crosses the ball, clearance made by Thomas Vermaelen.

88:36

The assistant referee flags for offside against Robin van Persie. Indirect free kick taken by Steven Taylor.

87:47

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Emmanuel Frimpong by Gabriel Obertan. Direct free kick taken by Thomas Vermaelen.

84:23 Substitution

Substitution Emmanuel Frimpong is brought on as a substitute for Tomas Rosicky.

81:59

Theo Walcott sends in a cross, Kieran Gibbs takes a shot. Save by Tim Krul.

81:15

Effort on goal by Joey Barton from outside the box goes harmlessly over the bar.

80:07 Substitution

Substitution Peter Lovenkrands on for Yohan Cabaye.

79:48

Shot by Ryan Taylor from just outside the area goes over the net.

78:52

Shot from just outside the area by Aaron Ramsey misses to the right of the target.

77:04 Booking

Booking Wojciech Szczesny is booked.

75:48 Booking

Booking Joey Barton is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.

75:12 Dismissal

Dismissal Yao Gervinho is sent off.

72:35 Substitution

Substitution Leon Best joins the action as a substitute, replacing Shola Ameobi.