SATISFACTION was tinged with an overwhelming feeling of disappointment for Glenn Roeder last night when he insisted Newcastle United should have been rewarded with a last-minute penalty in their 0-0 draw against Arsenal yesterday.

The Magpies, who continued in the same dogged fashion that brought victory over Sheffield United on Saturday, could quite easily have turned one point into three against the Gunners.

But, after wasting a number of decent opportunities in front of Jens Lehmann's goal, Newcastle were in the end indebted to two outstanding blocks on the line by Nolberto Solano from quick-fire shots from Gilberto Silva.

The draw has done little to boost Tyneside hopes of sneaking into an Intertoto Cup place before the end of the season, whereas three would have closed the gap to Portsmouth - now standing at five points - who were beaten by relegation certainties Watford.

Had referee Howard Webb pointed to the spot in the final stages, when Abou Diaby climbed all over American Oguchi Onyewu, then the result could have been all the more positive.

And Roeder said: "It's an understatement of the year to say we should have had a penalty.

"I thought you swapped shirts at the end.

"Howard Webb is a fine referee but needs bravery and courage to point to the spot in a position like that and he pulled up short.

"He's a fine referee, generally.

"He will be disappointed with himself when he sees this again."

With the exception of Solano's outstanding blocks from Gilberto, Arsenal struggled to trouble either Shay Given or his standin Steve Harper when he came on after 25 minutes.

And the Peruvian is still looking to a European spot. Solano said: "I was a little lucky to save both. The first hit my back. The second I stopped with my head. Now all we have to play for is the Intertoto Cup." But it could be that Newcastle have to cope without Given and Kieron Dyer at Portsmouth this weekend.

Roeder said: "Shay has hurt his right groin. He will be struggling for the weekend but we don't feel his season is over.

"Kieron has a tightness of his hamstring and it's not the one that has caused the problems in the past. Kieron could be fit for Saturday."

Arsenal, who avoided a fourth successive defeat, head into the weekend visit of fifth-placed Bolton with the prospect of being toppled from the fourth place they have occupied for much of the season. Wenger, though, remains confident.

"The focus was there, the spirit was there and this was not a bad result for us," said the Frenchman.

"At the Emirates I'm confident we will the game. We will prepare well and I'm confident we will do it. For the club, the players and everyone it's important we are in the Champions League next season. We are used to being there and we want to do it again."

Meanwhile, Roeder again reiterated that Owen will definitely not play a behind-closed-doors match this week. It was suggested that Hartlepool United would provide the opposition later today, or he would play for the reserves against Manchester United tomorrow.

But Roeder said: "The very fact he has been considered for such a game on Wednesday shows how close he is to playing. You can make your own assumptions. We could pick up the phone very quickly and get one of the local teams to play us."