The Latics match was also the first live game that my son ever saw. He has been asking me to come with me couple of times before, but last night I finally took him out to watch the Toon game. Although it’s makes him to sleep way very late but he seems to really enjoy it and happy with the result.

Meanwhile at St. James’ Park, three of the Indonesian Toon Army members are finally can shown our flag inside the fortress, good one lads!

Back to the game, Alan Pardew insists to keep his winning team against the bottom table Latics, I couldn’t blame him but it would be good if we put couple of fresh legas from the start, to give a taste of experience for the more tough cahllenge next month against the three teams above us.

I can see a glimpse of tireness in some of our players, and noticed that many of our attack was come from our right side. Obertan has a torrid game also, and many has critized his final ball last night.

But, history tells that it’s always difficult to play against them home and away. From our last two meetings with them at St. James’ Park in 2008/2009 and 2010/2011 seasons, all ends with 2-2 draw.

Yesterday match was another quiet game for Leon Best, especially with surprisingly the visitors took control of the game in the start of 20 minutes of the first half. They marched with 5 goal attempts and 4 shoots on goal compared to none from us.

They make our strikers to come down too deep in our midfield to pick the ball, with Hugo Rodallega constantly to be their main threats in our defense. Rodallega had a first minute shot blocked by Fabricio Coloccini and followed by another rising shot couple minutes later which was superbly tipped away by Tim Krul.

In the second half, things are not getting better before Alan Pardew quickly decide to bringing in Sylvain Marveaux and Ben Arfa to replace Leon Best and Obertan. We are starting to gain more control of the game and in ball possession.

A special note for Ben 10 performance last night, he seems to have little fear to fight for the ball after returning from his long broken leg injury. Although I can still see his magic movement, Ben Arfa still a little less below his peak performance.

Within the last 20 minutes, Pardew finally introduced Shola Ameobi who scores against Spurs last week. His appearance change the game again, and the visitors start to tightened up their defense looking for their first away point.

The deadlock finally broken in the 81st minute, starting with Ryan Taylor’s cross who was controlled by Marveaux before he served the ball for Cabaye to curl an unstoppable shot into Al Habsi top corner. With this glorious performance, I believe that Cabaye will be among those stars in the Euro 2012.

Newcastle United (4-4-2):
Tim Krul; Danny Simpson, Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Ryan Taylor; Gabriel Obertan (Sylvain Marveaux 76), Yohan Cabaye, Cheik Tiote, Jonas Gutierrez; Leon Best (Hatem Ben Arfa 46), Demba Ba (Shola Ameobi 68)

Subs not used: Steve Harper, Davide Santon, James Perch, Alan Smith

Wigan Athletic (4-1-4-1):
Ali Al Habsi; Emmerson Boyce, Antolin Alcaraz, Gary Caldwell (c), Maynor Figueroa; Ben Watson (James McArthur 82); Albert Crusat (Conor Sammon 81), Mohamed Diame, David Jones, Victor Moses; Hugo Rodallega

Subs not used: Mike Pollitt, Adrian Lopez, Hendry Thomas, Shaun Maloney, Jordi Gomez

Referee: Neil Swarbrick

Attendance: 48,321

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Couple days ago, some Arsenal fans have contacted me for an interview about today’s match, so if you interested to read my answer to their questions, you can visit the Arsenal Insider website.

Back to today’s game. Steven Taylor make a comeback again for United after being absence on FA Carling Cup win at Ricoh Arena last Tuesday, and partnered Fabricio Coloccini in our central defense.

As predicted, the North London boys are coming out aggresively and hunger for more goals after their Champions League 4-0 match win last Wednesday, and they could have a penalty very early when Van Persie tumbles to the floor from Coloccini’s sliding tackle.

The linesman indicating for a corner, although from the TV replays it’s inconclusive and a penalty may have been deservely iven to them. And they are finally got it in 18minutes as Adebayor’s cross hit the arm of Charles N’Zogbia.

This time the replays shown either way than the previous accident as it looks that the ball is coming straight to Charlie’s arm when he had no chance of getting out of the way. Van Persie doing it better than Kevin Nolan to give the lead to the home side.

And when the opportunity knocks on our door, it’s Ameobi who lurk it away with his stupid leg. Gutierrez interesting run down the right pulls the ball back from the by-line, and was wrong-footed by the host defenders to give Owen a golden opportunity from eight yards out. Only to see his shot clips the leg of Ameobi and rolls wide of the target! Thank you very much Amoeba.

On the other hand, the Gunners had their second from a break from the right. Adebayor cuts the ball inside to Eboue who flicks into the path of Van Persie for his second. Two minutes later, Enrique is off and Bassong going in.

In the 56 minutes, we have some minutes of enjoyable match as we try to minimize the 2 goals defisit. We have a corner when Sanga heads behind Gutierrez’s teasing centre. N’Zogbia’s cross meet Nicky Butt to turn a header with Almunia is beaten but not the woodwork.

And again, we have saw that for the second time, we are so helpless when dealing with a swift Arsenal breakaway, with their rather soft (today) player, Adebayor wins the ball back just outside the area before overlapping it to Denilson to scores past a rooted Shay Given.

Into the last quarter of the game, they are so close to scores the fourth but this time Given’s instinctively reacts to keep out Toure’s header from Walcott’s floated corner, while inside the last five minutes Walcott in a one-on-one against Shay Given shots wide of the target.

Another disappointing 3-0 lost like the last two games against them last season. But I see it as very deserved win for them against the depleted Newcastle team. I wonder what Mike Ashley’s thinking about when he saw this. If he still keep his pocket tight in the last three days of the summer transfer window, then we will not see much of progress at all for Newcastle team this season.

TEAMS
Arsenal FC:
Manuel Almunia, Bacary Sagna, Kolo Toure, William Gallas (c), Gael Clichy, Emmanuel Eboue (Theo Walcott, 72), Denilson (Alex Song, 69), Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri, Robin van Persie (Carlos Vela, 63), Emmanuel Adebayor.
Subs: Lukasz Fabianski, Aaron Ramsey, Johan Djourou, Nicklas Bendtner

Newcastle United FC:
Shay Given, Habib Beye (Joey Barton, 89), Jose Enrique (Sebastien Bassong, 43), Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini, Danny Guthrie, Nicky Butt, Jonas Gutierrez (David Edgar, 89), Charles N’Zogbia, Michael Owen (c), Shola Ameobi.
Subs: Steve Harper, Ben Tozer, Ryan Donaldson, Nile Ranger

Referee: Rob Styles

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Newcastle took the lead in 21 minutes, thanks to Charles N’Zogbia effort, although the goal was later being describe as an own goal, but Zog deserves the credit in the process.

17 minutes later, James Milner doubled the Magpies lead with a shot from the right which catches out keeper Marshall with the ball bouncing beyond his dive and into the far corner.

The home side get one goal inside the injury time before the half-time break through Clinton Morrison from a swift City breakaway.

In the second-half we look comfortable to get through to the third round as we control the game much, and have Michael Owen coming into the field in the 75min replacing Geremi. But the referee seems not in the rush to blow the final whistle even the clock get runs into the 3rd minutes into the injury time that was scheduled for just two minutes.

Desperately looking for the equaliser, City win a throw in on the right into the penalty area, where their skipper Scott Dann arriving with pace to head low into the bottom corner with Shay Given rooted to the spot.

In the first half of the extra time, Newcastle took the second advantage in 97minutes when City players fail to clear N’Zogbia corner. And just like the Bolton match, this time Enrique took the loose ball 40 yards out before sending a delightful pass over the top for Owen to race on to before finishing side-footed past the on-rushing Marshall. 3-2 for Newcastle!

The City players then keep rushing to get back into the game and force it into penalty shoot-out, and they almost got it when in two minutes before the end of extra time Shay Given saves Simpson’s low strike, and rebound to safety before Morrison can take the loose ball.

Coventry City FC:
Andy Marshall, Marcus Hall, Danny Fox, Elliott Ward, Scott Dann (c), Guillaume Beuzelin, Aron Gunnarsson, Leon McKenzie, Michael Mifsud, Clinton Morrison, Jay Tabb
Subs: Danny Ireland, Michael Doyle, Julian Gray, Ben Turner, Robbie Simpson, Kevin Thornton, Jordon Clarke

Newcastle United FC:
Shay Given, Habib Beye, Jose Enrique, Fabricio Coloccini, Sebastien Bassong, Nicky Butt (c), Danny Guthrie, Geremi, Charles N’Zogbia, James Milner, Jonas Gutierrez
Subs: Michael Owen, Steve Harper, Steven Taylor, David Edgar, Ryan Donaldson, Nile Ranger

Referee: A Bates
Attendance: 19,249

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Newcastle United once again had to thank Shay Given for his worldclass penalty save today to give us another promising match. It took his double act of parrying low to his right first to denied Kevin Nolan’s penalty before steer the ball away with his feet.

In the match where the “winning” team starter at OT last Sunday saw the rapturous welcome from the Toon Army today meet the well organised Bolton side. The first-half saw a rather dull performance in terms of goals result just because the over-crowded midfield, with Trotters parked their players in midfield to denied any movements from our side.

Credits to former Toon player Andy O’Brien and his Bolton partner Gary Cahill who held firmly at the backyard to block some shots from Obafemi Martins, James Milner and Damien Duff.

In the second period, KK has to make double change, first to replace Damien Duff who look like having a knock in the first-half and make way for Geremi’s first game of the season.

Then the 52 minutes, Oba Martins injured his groin after dives to head Geremi’s excellent low cross goalwards minutes earlier. He was being replaced by Toon skipper Michael Owen who make his way into the game with the Toon Army gives him a warm welcome.

The game changed dramatically after the arrival of Owen on our side, and he needs no longer time to repaid Keegan’s faith.

Just two minutes after Nolan miss the penalty, Milner’s strike from Toon’s free-kick hits the Bolton’s wall, but managed to make a rebound to Michael Owen who is unmarked at the far post. Owen leaps a header but the Finnish keeper is spotted well to parry the effort.

But not in the 71 minutes. N’Zogbia’s corner kick can only half cleared, Geremi quickly retrieves the ball before picks out Owen to makes no mistake to heads the ball beyond the despairing dive of Jaaskelainen.

Newcastle United:
Given, Beye, Taylor, Coloccini, N’Zogbia, Milner, Butt, Guthrie, Gutierrez, Martins (Owen 53), Duff (Geremi 46).
Subs Not Used: Harper, Jose Enrique, Bassong, Smith, Edgar.
Booked: Taylor.

Bolton:
Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Andrew O’Brien, Samuel, Joey O’Brien (Mustapha 85), Nolan, Muamba, Taylor (Gardner 65), Davies, Elmander (McCann 15).
Subs Not Used: Al Habsi, Hunt, Dzemaili, Shittu.

Ref: Steve Bennett (Kent).
Att: 47,711

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Keegan handed a full Premierships debut to all of our three new signing this season. With Jonas Gutierrez and Danny Guthrie have tasted the pre-season matches before today, it was Fabrizio Coloccini who is still “virgin” in Black-and-Whites but he did very well to make Wayne Rooney invisible most of the game.

The host can make some excuses about the missing of some of their first team squad, with Ronaldo and Tevez both out of starting line-up, but still they are a bit the better team in general than Newcastle United team, but we have a slight of advantage today which is luck and team spirit.

Luck? Yes, I must admitted that we have some good luck today despite we did playing very good. Shay did a marvelous “lucky” save when he head out a close range effort from Fraizer Campbell on eight minutes.

Then his double saves when Rooney give in a powerful shot before Paul Scholes rebounded in 15 minutes. This time they are super save in my opinion, and a good sign from Given that he may have found his very best back again.

What about us? We did pretty well in the first-half with Coloccini providing more confidence in our back four, and Jonas Gutierrez proven as he really deserve to wear the nickname “Spiderman”. Guti was so quick in attack and very tough when in defensive duty, and i think we have found a jewel in a rough on him.

And in the 18 minutes, we have a first corner of the game when Martins’ cross on the left deflected by Vidic. The first corner went disappointed, but 4 minutes later we have another flag kick in hand.

This time, Guthrie’s ball flying good and it’s Taylor volley deflected behind for another corner. Guthire crosses the ball in high to meet Oba Martins head who out-jump everyone inside the penalty area to give the Geordies the lead – and you must know what happen next to the Toon Army :).

But the lead also resulting an injury to Steven Taylor who picking up a knock and the home side took one man advantage to get back in the game just two minutes later through Darren Fletcher. That should not be happening if Taylor still playing or NZogbia arriving on time to cover the cross from Ryan Giggs.

That’s it for the first-half as we keep the possession as long as we can into the end. And in the second-half with no changes on the Toon side, we keep playing the ball around and try to steal the game in a counter attack.

Although the host now keep pushing us to the edge, we are responding well and give them some serious counter attacking to think about. The moment when Gutierrez received a good ball pass from our defence and rouse up until the opposite half, it took a decent tackle from Vidic to stop him, excellent move from Spiderman.

All in all, a very good performance from the Toon lads as we did control the game in the second half smartly. In fact Martins could win this for Newcastle if his glancing header found the target from another Guthrie flag-kick.

Bring on Bolton!!!

Manchester United:
Van der Sar, Evra, Ferdinand, Brown, Vidic, Giggs (Possebon 63), Carrick (O’Shea 25), Fletcher, Campbell (Rafael 79), Scholes, Rooney.
Subs: Gary Neville, Jonathan Evans, Darron Gibson, Tomasz Kusczak

Newcastle United:
Given, Beye, Coloccini, Taylor, N’Zogbia, Milner, Butt (c), Guthrie, Gutierrez, Duff, Martins.
Subs: Steve Harper, Jose Enrique, Geremi, Alan Smith, David Edgar, Sebastien Bassong, Ryan Donaldson

Ref: Mike Riley
Crowd: 75,512

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