One of the most talented forwards playing in the Barclays Premier League was on view at the Emirates Stadium last night, and so was Michael Owen. Harsh, of course, and probably not fair — but it was also cruel of the football fates to give Owen’s struggling Newcastle United two successive visits to Arsenal’s ground, where Emmanuel Adebayor has been in irrepressible form.

The Togo forward’s first-half goal was his ninth in seven matches. Owen, in contrast, has scored only once since October 7, nine league games ago. But then he is hardly playing in a team who have been going goal crazy, having failed to score in five of their past six matches in all competitions. Time and again he was on his marks on the shoulder of the last defender, set and ready to go, but the pass did not come.

So the service was poor, but the explosive pace of yesteryear was seldom in evidence. In the first half, he took possession 25 yards out with only William Gallas in front of him. But as he trundled, rather than burst forward, Gallas had only to stick out a leg to relieve him of possession.

Not that he could not run — far from it. As Newcastle captain, Owen seemed to want to show how much ground he could cover on the team’s behalf, but tracking back and occasionally putting his foot in — as Alexander Hleb will attest — are hardly the best use of Owen’s skills.

Adebayor, languid off the ball, looked lazy by comparison, but he was saving his energy for when it mattered and he was using his brain as well as his legs. When Arsenal were in wide positions, he pulled away, beyond the central defenders, so that if a cross came in he would be up against Stephen Carr or Charles N’Zogbia, rather than Steven Taylor or Caçapa. There was never any doubt that he would beat Carr to Mathieu Flamini’s cross to head home after 40 minutes. Confidence and great service — a blend that Owen cannot find at the moment.