NEWCASTLE'S suicidal tendencies cost them a precious point and the chance to escape from the Premiership's bottom three last night.

Under-fire leaders Arsenal defied their growing army of critics to move four points clear of Chelsea and Manchester United after the Magpies had come from behind twice in a pulsating encounter at Highbury.

But all their good work was undone when midfielder Jermain Jenas inexplicably raised his hand to a corner and Thierry Henry, who had given the Gunners an 18th-minute lead, stepped up to nonchalantly convert the resulting penalty.

Henry had first capitalised on a horrible miskick by Titus Bramble, which typified the Geordies' alarming inclination to self-destruct.

Laurent Robert brought Sir Bobby Robson's side level in the 26th minute with his fourth goal in six appearances for the Magpies against the Gunners.

But when Robert picked up a booking for a needless foul on Freddie Ljungberg in the 67th minute, substitute Robert Pires delivered the free-kick from the right and Gilberto Silva lost marker Jenas to power home a header.

Newcastle, however, refused to lie down and four minutes later left-back Olivier Bernard crashed home a magnificent, angled shot into the top near corner after Kieron Dyer's dazzling run and through ball had created the opening.

But the Gunners, with six players facing a total of 11 disciplinary charges after Sunday's Battle of Old Trafford and the club in the dock themselves for "failing to ensure the proper behaviour of their players'', ultimately prevailed to send a message to their title rivals.

On the night Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer made his 350th Premiership appearance, teammate Gary Speed - who with former Arsenal star Nigel Winterburn is one of only two other players to reach that milestone - was surprisingly axed to make way for the return of Lee Bowyer.

Like Newcastle, the Gunners showed just one change to their starting line-up, with Sylvain Wiltord, whose solitary goal decided this fixture last season, restored to the attack in place of the injured Dennis Bergkamp.

Amid the furore which followed Arsenal's execrable exhibition at Old Trafford, Newcastle had quietly gone about restoring a measure of pride with their 5-0 UEFA Cup drubbing of Dutch side NAC Breda at St. James' Park.

But Robson's men knew their performance here would have to be of the highest order if they were to begin to throw off their domestic woes.

That was underlined by the brilliant possession play the Gunners quickly imposed on the game - and it almost yielded a goal after little more than a minute.

Left-back Ashley Cole forced his way into the United box on the overlap and his dangerous cross-shot was palmed away by Shay Given with Henry and Co. sniffing in vain for the rebound.

When Wiltord whipped the ball in to the near post from the right, Henry was there again but could only manage a faint touch and Given blocked.

The Newcastle keeper was then at full stretch to turn away a flashing 20-yard effort from Henry as the home side kept up the early pressure.

Nerves began to fray in the Newcastle rearguard, and the goal that had been coming from the off arrived when Lauren crossed from the right and Bramble's six-yard airshot presented Henry with a simple finish at the far post.

But against the run of play and all the odds, Newcastle levelled only eight minutes later.

Right-back Aaron Hughes looked to have been hit by the same affliction as Bramble when he sliced an attempted centre.

But it proved fortuitous as the ball broke to Bowyer, who fed Dyer to centre for Robert and the rest was easy for the Frenchman.

Fellow countryman Bernard bravely sized up a chance to put Newcastle ahead ten minutes later, gathering Craig Bellamy's ball to cut in from the left and unleash a powerful, angled drive that brought a low save from Jens Lehmann.

Newcastle had weathered the early storm, but their seemingly perennial defensive deficiencies surfaced again five minutes into the second half when centre-back Andy O'Brien slipped to leave Ljungberg in the clear.

The Swede swept down the left and skipped round Given, but his chip clipped the near post and Newcastle were off the hook - but not for long.

Result : Arsenal 3 Newcastle United 2.

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