NEWCASTLE United manager Bobby Robson last night admitted it felt 'great' to be top of the Premiership table.

After an incredible game at Highbury, which saw two men sent off and a controverial penalty turn the game, Robson insisted that it was evident the game had a lot at stake.

The 3-1 win saw Newcastle climb above Liverpool and Robson said: "It feels good, but it would feel even better if we are there come May."

The fact the Magpies reached the pinnacle of the top-flight by bringing to an end a run of 29 games without a win in London, made it that much sweeter for Robson, who is now hoping for a similar result at Leeds on Saturday.

He added: "Of course it makes it even better that we managed to go top by winning in London and it's nice that we have ended that run.

"We have tried so many different things to end the run, bringing the Magpies down on the coach, everything - it's just good to end it.

"It will all start again now."

At 1-1, following Ray Parlour's sending off for the Gunners, Craig Bellamy saw a straight red for his strayed arm which resulted in Ashley Cole hitting the floor and will miss three games.

And the Newcastle boss did not believe his Welsh star deserved to go, but admitted he thought the referee's decisions evened out over the courseof the 90 minutes with Sol Campbell adjudged to have brought down Laurent Robert with five minutes remaining.

"All I know is that the referee will have been 25 yards behind when he saw that tackle and he'll have thought the defender has brought down the player," said Robson, who saw Alan Shearer fire home the penalty before Robert rounded off the victory.

"And after Parlour got sent off we had a great chance to get back into the game and we took it.

"But then Bellamy was sent off, and at half-time I told him and Speed to watch what they were doing because they had both been booked. All Bellamy was doing was playing with his arms up, he didn't mean to do anything to their player.

"Decisions like that make championships - that's what we saw out there, a championship game between two sides fighting for the top of the Premiership."

And the Magpies chief indicated that he thinks Arsenal will go all the way in the championship race.

Arsenal were phenomenal in the first half but found it difficult to add to Robert Pires' first strike.

And Robson said: "They can still win it, there's no doubting that, they are an excellent side.

"They looked a class above in the first half. They were mean, fluid and were a strong machine.

"That's why it makes it even nicer to come to London and win to go top."

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