BEATEN FA Cup Finalists Arsenal failed to complete a double over Newcastle but left Tyneside happy with a point which guarantees their place in the Champions League next season.

But the Gunners, who beat United 5-0 at Highbury in December, had more than enough chances to claim victory, despite a battling performance by the home side. In striker Thierry Henry Arsenal had the best player on the field, but too often he flattered to deceive, letting himself down with some slapdash finishing in excellent positions.

England midfielder Ray Parlour, who hit a hat-trick in the first game, came closest to breaking the deadlock in the second period with a pile-drive shot which home keeper Shay Given did well to beat away.

But it was a very entertaining game, packed with end-to-end play and the 50,729 fans were given plenty to shout about - apart from goals.

Newcastle had an escape in the fifth minute after a brilliant Arsenal move up the left; Henry splitting the home defence with a subtle back-heel which provided a perfect shooting chance for Robert Pires, but the Frenchman scooped his shot over the bar from 12 yards.

Newcastle squandered a great opening in the tenth minute after some sloppy play by Pires. He gave the ball away to Carl Cort, who slipped the ball out to Nolberto Solano, only to fire the return wide of the mark from ten yards.

Patrick Vieira was spoken to by referee Alan Wiley for a clumsy challenge from behind on Speed, but the free-kick proved fruitless and Arsenal stormed forward only for Andy O'Brien to get in a great block to prevent Denis Bergkamp chipping the advancing Shay Given, who had lost the race for Henry's low centre from the left.

But Newcastle hit back and were only inches away from a goal in the 24th minute when Cort, diving in low to a left-wing centre from Aaron Hughes, steered his header just outside the upright with goalkeeper David Seaman beaten. The England man was all at sea in the next United raid and when Solano took the ball round him his centre was hacked away in front of goal.

Newcastle might have had a penalty in the 29th minute when Dixon appeared to hold Cort's shirt as the big striker went up to put a header straight to Seaman after a Warren Barton right-wing centre.

Arsenal again squandered a good chance after Bergkamp set up a shooting opportunity for Ray Parlour in the 33rd minute, but he did not connect properly with his right-foot shot from 12 yards.

Some of the Arsenal movement upfield was a delight to watch, but the end product had been disappointing, with Lee Dixon joining the list of culprits as he failed to connect with a header just outside the six-yard-box with the home defence again at full stretch.

The United goal had another escape when Adams, up for a corner, found himself with a shooting chance and swivelled to drive his right-foot shot just wide from very close range.

But Newcastle should have opened the second half in style when Solano centred from the right for the dangerous Cort to knock down into the path of Speed - but the midfielder hooked his left-foot volley high over the bar from only eight yards.

Henry again showed superb skill on the ball, only to finish with a poor shot, dragging the ball across the face of goal when a more decisive application would surely have put Arsenal in front.

Arsenal might have had the more silky skills but United were battling hard and Cort in particular was proving a real handful for Adams and company

The home defence was having to dig in at times as Arsenal probed menacingly, but for all the attacking play neither keeper had been tested in the opening hour of play.

Speed almost broke the deadlock in the 66th minute when he raced in menacingly to meet a right-wing centre from Barton, but he did not make proper contact and the half chance was gone.

It was still a very open game, only lacking a killer touch, and Arsenal tried to bolster their attack by bringing on Kanu for the ineffective Bergkamp in the 69th minute.

Newcastle, however, were fighting hard and in the 76th minute Gallacher fired a shot straight at Seaman, who saved at the second attempt, making a meal of it.

But Given responded magnificently in the 79th minute to beat away a blockbuster effort from Parlour, who spun away from Hughes before breaking into the box and then the keeper came to the rescue again by tipping over an Adams header as Arsenal forced the pace.

Newcastle brought on Shola Ameobi for Gallacher in the 80th minute and he had a wonderful chance of snatching a last-gasp winner, but put a tame shot straight at Seaman in the 89th minute.