SO MUCH for Arsenal’s promise to dispel the theory that they are vulnerable in a scrap. They were reduced to 10 men early in the second half of a match they had controlled while Newcastle were increased to 12 by a boisterous home crowd and it seemed to do the trick.

In the bruising, bloody exchange that followed, the visitors lost their way, and eventually all three points to a late goal by Nolberto Solano. Nine minutes of the match remained when Alan Shearer somehow held off Kolo Toure in the box before laying the ball wide to Solano.

The Peruvian’s low shot into the bottom left-hand corner all but ended any slim hopes Arsenal had of catching Chelsea. They are now 17 points behind the Premiership leaders.

Having played second fiddle to their opponents’ slick passing in the opening period, Newcastle adopted a more direct approach after the interval, as well as a combative edge personified by Shearer. He was involved in a series of clashes with the Arsenal keeper, Jens Lehmann, and defender Sol Campbell. Asked whether his antics had served to lift the crowd, he said: “I’m not daft you know.”

Neither is Arsenal boss Arsène Wenger, who was angry that the Newcastle striker went unpunished, while Gilberto was sent off for two soft bookings. Wenger said: “The thinking is that if you go physical against Arsenal, they do not win, but I feel that some might be going overboard. Shearer gets away with a lot. He goes for the man and then the ball.”

In contrast Newcastle boss Graeme Souness was delighted with his warhorse. He said: “Alan is the best centre-forward the English have ever had of that style. He’s not the biggest man in the world but I doubt if there is anyone with a bigger heart. He plays facing the wrong way most of the time but no centre-half enjoys marking him because he plays it like a true man.

“We are in the north and maybe are more confrontational than other parts of the country. Alan epitomised that today. That’s part and parcel of the English game.”

Scott Parker was another whose battling contribution was inspirational, although he paid for it with a lost tooth. Dazed by separate clashes with Lehmann and Toure, he was administered treatment with a syringe before limping off to be replaced by Lee Bowyer in the closing stages. “Scott was immense,” said Souness. “He epitomised what we were about. If you give Arsenal time and space they will cut you to ribbons.”

Anxious to withstand the physical challenge they had failed to meet at Bolton a week earlier, Arsenal had been keen in the first half to ensure that their more sophisticated work was not sacrificed.

In midfielder Alexander Hleb, they had a player capable of rising above the game’s vulgarities. The graceful Belorussian struck up an understanding with Henry that surely bodes well for the future.

Several times he picked out the striker with intelligent balls inside either full-back, only to find that the final ball was inadequate. Cesc Fabregas was another source of invention as Arsenal’s share of possession grew larger.

The young midfielder was at the root of their best efforts, picking out Thierry Henry with a perfect cross that he caught on the volley. Newcastle had no right to expect a save from Shay Given, but the left hand he flashed at the speeding ball was inspired.

Newcastle, as usual, were depleted by injuries, but at least they had Michael Owen back. In the four matches he had missed with a hamstring problem, his team had failed to score in open play.

The home side had opened with passion, but quickly allowed their opponents to drain it from them. Only a long-range effort by Parker, after Shearer’s lay-off, had tested Lehmann before half-time.

Newcastle were as vigorous in the early stages of the second half as they had been in the first, perhaps capitalising on the interruption to Arsenal’s momentum. Shearer again set up Parker, this time by heading down Solano’s floated cross, but the midfielder hooked his shot over the bar.

The Geordie fans roared, even more so when a red card was issued to Gilberto in the 57th minute. The midfielder’s challenge on Jean-Alain Boumsong had been harmless but it compounded his first-half booking for a foul on Shola Ameobi.

Wenger was not amused. “If Gilberto Silva is sent off for that then my eyes need readjusting. It was nothing compared to other things that went on in the game.”

STAR MAN: Scott Parker (Newcastle)

Player ratings. Newcastle: Given 7, Ramage 6, Bramble 7, Boumsong 6, Elliott 6, Solano 7, Parker 8 (Bowyer 74min, 5), Faye 6, Ameobi 6, Shearer 7, Owen 6 (Chopra 89min, 4)

Arsenal: Lehmann 6, Toure 6, Senderos 6, Campbell 7, Lauren 6, Ljungberg 6, Gilberto 6, Fabregas 76 (Pires 86min, 4), Hleb 7 (Flamini 63min, 5), Van Persie 6 (Quincy 85min, 4), Henry 7 Scorer: Newcastle: Solano 82

Referee: D Gallagher

Attendance: 52,297

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