TEN-MAN Newcastle United lost 1-0 to Arsenal in a scrappy encounter at St James’ Park.

Fabricio Coloccini’s second-half own goal won it for the Gunners after Aleksandar Mitrovic was sent off early in the game.

Newcastle had started with the same commitment at the back that had earned them a point at Old Trafford a week ago, but Arsenal were bright in attack and Theo Walcott drew a save out of Tim Krul with ten minutes on the clock.

Hector Bellerin took a tumble in the area which led to penalty calls from the Gunners, before Moussa Sissoko dragged a shot wide moments later on the counter-attack.

But it was Mitrovic who was once more at the centre of things when he dragged his studs down Francis Coquelin’s shins with only 16 minutes on the clock. Referee Andre Marriner sent the Serbian international off which sparked furious scenes at St James’ Park.

However, looking at replays of the incident, Marriner was correct to send off Mitrovic if you apply the letter of the law.

What followed from there was a display of over-officious refereeing, throwing cards around like confetti. If Mitrovic’s sending off possibly killed the game for Newcastle, the subsequent stoppages by Marriner certainly did.

Newcastle went on the attack but could not find a way through the Arsenal back line, while Walcott missed the best chance of all when he skied Krul’s rebound over the bar from point-blank range.

With Newcastle in a 4-2-3-0 formation following Mitrovic’s removal, it was going to be a matter of time before Arsenal would find a way through, and they did so seven minutes after the restart. Aaron Ramsey’s shot from 20 yards was parried into the path of Oxlade-Chamberlain who rifled home courtesy of a cruel deflection off Fabricio Coloccini. The Newcastle skipper was credited with the goal.

Chasing the game and down to ten men, Newcastle were forced deep by Arsenal’s pressure, and Krul made saves from Alezis Sanchez and Santi Cazorla.

However, the Magpies sensed their opportunity to get back into the game and brought in attacking reinforcements in the shape of Ayoze Perez and Papiss Cisse as Steve McClaren changed the shape of his side, but could not muster a shot on target in the second half and Arsenal’s win was safe.

NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-2-3-1): Krul; Janmaat, Coloccini, Mbemba, Haidara; Anita (Perez 72), Colback; Sissoko (Cisse 78), Wijnaldum, Thauvin (De Jong 87); Mitrovic. Subs: Darlo, Taylor, Tiote, Obertan.

ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Cech; Bellerin, Koscielny, Gabriel, Monreal; Coquelin, Cazorla; Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arteta 81), Ramsey, Sanchez; Walcott (Giroud 69). Subs: Ospina, Debuchy, Gibbs, Chambers, Campbell.