Graphic: Highs, lows and Big Sam's passing fancies

A “relieved” Sam Allardyce savoured one of the most vital results of his long career last night, Newcastle United’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal bolstering the manager’s position at St James’ Park.

On an evening of wholehearted effort and support — on and off the pitch — Tyneside rallied around Allardyce and on this evidence, he retains the loyalty of his players, as well as his employers.

Rumours about sackings and dressing-room disquiet are still to be dismissed — a sequence of six matches without victory is a breeding ground for Gallowgate gossip — but in restricting Arsenal to a four-point lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League, Newcastle produced a gritty and sturdy performance. It was an outcome that few could have predicted.

Arsenal may have been lacking Cesc Fàbregas, Robin van Persie, Alexander Hleb and Mathieu Flamini, but they have been irrepressible of late.

Few of the circumstances favoured Newcastle, who recovered from an early strike by Emmanuel Adebayor to equalise in the second half through Steven Taylor, their Geordie defender. Parity was the least they deserved.

“I’m relieved, but I’m also disappointed that we haven’t won and that’s a little bit hard to take,” Allardyce said. “It’s not often you can put Arsenal on the back foot for so long. They were hanging on by the end. But the result was huge and it does take the pressure off. I’ve come here to hear 52,000 people cheering every week and I love it. It’s a weight lifted off all of us, including me.”

Newcastle began in a familiar manner, with their defensive frailties easing Adebayor towards his ninth goal of the season. Even allowing for their assistance, the Togo forward’s volleyed finish was sublime, but the reaction was vigorous. At the final whistle, Arsenal had withstood a battering and Newcastle were cheered off. Arsène Wenger acknowledged the power of the crowd, saying: “I anticipated a crisis here and I anticipated a different game, but it looked like they made a union to fight and come together. All of them were on board. They fought like mad for 90 minutes. Newcastle were very direct, but the pressure from the stands was so great that I can’t blame the referee.”

Allardyce conceded that he had harnessed the “spirit of Bolton [Wanderers],” his former club, who were a regular thorn in Arsenal’s side, although it was his turn to express unease at opposition tactics.

“We had a committed presence but stayed within the letter of the law, even though Arsenal tried to overcome it by conning the referee,” he said. “Thankfully, Mike Dean didn’t fall for that.”

Backing for Allardyce was widespread. Reports that dismissal would follow in the event of defeat by the country’s most accomplished team could always be discounted, a message reinforced by Mike Ashley, the club’s owner, yesterday.

When Arsenal supporters chanted “You’ll be sacked in the morning”, there was an immediate response of “Big Sam’s black-and-white army”. Yet trepidation is not banished. Newcastle face Birmingham City at home on Saturday, then play Fulham (away), Derby County (home) and Wigan Athletic (away), a series of fixtures that can be regarded as pivotal, but the club’s intention is to provide Allardyce with breathing space.

“I would like to relieve some of the current pressure in order to give the players a chance to perform,” Chris Mort, the chairman, said.

Arsenal were far from scintillating best, but Wenger was satisfied. “A four-point lead is not bad,” the manager said. “We would have settled for that back in August. We did not play our usual game, but we got a point we maybe wouldn’t have got last season.”

Wenger confirmed that he will meet Brian Barwick, the FA chief executive, to discuss the vacant England head coach’s position.

“I have said many times it has to be an Englishman, because it’s the English football federation,” he said. “What makes me sad is that I’m more nationalistic than you are. You’re off chasing [Josè] Mourinho and [Fabio] Capello and I’m the only one saying he should be English.”