We were canny good first half. We were toe to toe and for every attack they had we replied; we had a wee bit of menace in our endeavour.

Duff was doing well down the left, I remember a one off the line from Duff, a cross from Milner flashing across the face of the goal with Owen close to it, Taylor with a freak free header. A canny team effort. We did fine going forward and Arsenal looked more pretty and clever than full-blooded threatening.

Then the second half started.

If Geremi’s legs have gone then Butt’s are gone too today, while Duff was knackered after an hour. Our midfield disappeared and our defence again exposed couldn’t cope and was on the brink of comedy at times.

Better than of late but miles and miles and million and millions adrift and sub standard in defence, midfield and attack. This is only half time against a bigger, fitter and out of site better team than our lot.

Keegan believes his side are in need of a confidence boost after seeing his second game in charge ended in defeat as Arsenal picked up a 3-0 win at Emirates Stadium.

“In the first half we actually matched them and probably outplayed them,” Keegan told Sky Sports. “The challenge was to put 45 minutes on top of that. But we couldn’t do that today.”

“In the second half there were some things that were not good enough. The biggest thing that is missing is confidence. It is the one thing that makes a player find that extra step.” He added more, “We have got to get the players thinking a little bit differently because I am different to Sam.”

Arsene Wenger said after the game that United’s squad has gave his side a stern test at Emirates Stadium today and started very brightly and created some chances.

“It took us some time to take control of the game,” Wenger said as quoted from Sky Sports. “It was not easy at all. Kevin brought them here with drive going forward and belief in what they do. They were dangerous. We have learnt you need to be top class to beat Newcastle at the moment.”

Kevin Keegan’s side finally surrender by a one man show Emmanuel Adebayor. They must have been doing some diplomacy with the FA to secure their lethal striker still available for today’s match.

It would have been a different result if the FA put the charges to both Adebayor and Bendtner for their violent conduct while they play in the League Cup against Spurs. But for Newcastle United, it was clear that we still far from being the same class with King Kev’s 1990’s squad.

For the first 45 minutes, I think we have played quite good, with couple of decent chances to score against them. Alan Smith could have scored his first goal for Newcastle in the 14th minute, but his first time volley was not headed clear by Gael Clichy from the goal-line.

Steven Taylor’s great chance on the half hour mark when he found himself clear from Arsenal’s defender but his header was gone a bit high over Lehmann’s crossbar.

Damien Duff and James Milner both working hard to create some good crosses into the home side penalty area, with one of them found Owen’s left footed effort but the ball was going wide off the goal.

The home side almost took the lead on the injury time when Abou Diaby’s dipping 20-yard strike over the woodwork by Given’s fingertips.

On the second half, the home team change their tactic by playing wide to open the United’s defence. It was prove to be the key of their success today. Newcastle’s defence was being separated after working almost perfect in the first half.

If we haven’t got Cacapa excellent performance, we may have suffered more goals. He is just unlucky to receive the only one yellow card on this game.

Adenayor scores his first after adavncing from the rebound of Eduardo’s effort who hit the far post. It should have been off-cleared the danger zone if the United defenders are not looking at the same ball but do nothing to it. His second was a brilliant effort and it was a well taken goal. Taylor couldn’t stop it, as the shot was in full speed.

Newcastle United rarely have the chance on this half period, Owen and Smith was almost unemployed for most of the rests of 30 minutes after Adebayor’s first goal. And the nightmare is completed with Nicky Butt’s own goal in the dying minutes.

Kevin Keegan made all the substitutions in the last quarter of the game. Keegan Brings in Rozehnal to replace Enrique and Kazenga Lua-lua in for Damien Duff.

TEAM LINE UP:

Arsenal FC:
Jens Lehmann, Abou Diaby (Gilberto, 76), Cesc Fabregas, Philippe Senderos, Tomas Rosicky (Eduardo, 9), William Gallas (c), Mathieu Flamini, Gael Clichy, Emmanuel Adebayor, Justin Hoyte, Theo Walcott (Alexander Hleb, 76)
Subs: Lukasz Fabianski, Nicklas Bendtner

Newcastle United FC:
Shay Given, Stephen Carr, Jose Enrique (David Rozehnal, 76), Claudio Cacapa, Steven Taylor, Nicky Butt, Charles N’Zogbia, James Milner, Damien Duff (Kazenga LuaLua, 82), Michael Owen (c), Alan Smith
Subs: Steve Harper, David Edgar, Andy Carroll

Referee: Martin Atkinson
Attendance: 60, 046

King Kev Newcastle’s squad will bolster up with the return of Alan Smith and Nicky Butt after the FA suspensions but will still missing Emre, who is banned for the red card he received in Newcastle’s FA Cup 3rd round replay against Stoke City.

Mark Viduka remains doubt with calf problem, while Joey Barton is once again still unlikely to figure. After having worked with his squad for over a week now, King Kev is confident that Newcastle can give a hard time for the London side and will try to give them another Cup defeat.

“It’s a terrific tie for us. If you thought about the places where we could go there can’t be too many harder.” Keegan said in the official site, “The cup throws up shocks at times and for most people it would be a shock, but I’ve said to the players this week, ‘What do we want to go there and do?’ Obviously the aim is to still be in the competition.”

King Kev also ask the United squad to be courageous out there and try to cause them more problems. Keegan added with the players such as Alan Smith, Michael Owen, Charles N’Zogbia, Damien Duff and James Milner, it’s no good to asking them to go there and sit back try to get a goalless draw. I like that Mr. Keegan!

Arsenal will be minus Robin van Persie who still suffering a thigh injury, midfielder Denilson with hamstring, and Johan Djourou still got a groin injury, but defenders Philippe Senderos and Gael Clichy may return. Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue and Alex Song all are away on African Nations Cup duty.

Meanwhile, Emmanuel Adebayor and Nicklas Bendtner on-pitch bust up during last Tuesday’s League Cup has made coward coach Arsene Wenger cancelled his regular Friday news conference, why oh why Mr. Wenger, are you afraid of being speechless infront of the press?