Despite the defensive worries (Campbell played), Arsenal were back to their dominant ways, and should have won by more than the one goal.

Wiltord got that goal (his first for ages after a storming scoring start to the season) on 25 minutes after an end-to-end move. It started with us playing the ball slightly dangerously out of defence, and culiminated with a great corss-field ball from Ljungberg to Henry, who found Luzhny's overlapping run, and the Moose's casual cross was turned in by Wiltord from a few yards out.

Bergkamp nearly opened the scoring on 3 minutes. Having been played in by Henry the Dutch master shrugged off a couple of challenges before curling his shot past Given but onto the post.

Vieira missed a good chance on 13 with a header that missed a practically open goal.

Soon after the goal, Freddie was unlucky to see his lob just clear the crossbar, and he had a point-blank shot saved by Given later on.

Newcastle's closest was a Viana shot which cannoned off the underside of the bar just before halftime, thanks to a Semana fingertip, but they had no efforts on goal in the second half at all.

The key to today's victory was probably the return of Patrick Vieira, who put in one of those awesome performances which he alone is capable of.

Liverpool lost their first match of the season today, 1-0 at Middlesbrough, so the gap at the top is closed to 1 point (see table)