If the FA Cup ever needed a game to lift its flagging reputation then this was it.

Newcastle and Arsenal served up an absolute cracker at St James' Park and they must do it all again after the sides played out a 1-1 draw.

An entertaining first half saw Newcastle enjoy the majority of possession with Frenchman Laurent Robert causing problems down the left but it was the visitors who opened the scoring through Edu.

The Brazilian nipped in ahead of Nikos Dabizas to slide home Sylvain Wiltord's cross in the 14th minute.

Newcastle almost levelled immediately after the restart when Robert was denied by the bar with Richard Wright well and truly beaten.

Robert was again involved when his free-kick from the left was met by the head of Dabizas, but the Greek defender saw his effort go just wide.

Seven minutes into the second half, Robert was rewarded for his persistence when he smashed home Newcastle's equaliser.

The former PSG star claimed his seventh goal of the season with an unstoppable drive from skipper Alan Shearer's knock down.

Spurred on by the goal, Newcastle went in search of a second goal and Carl Cort almost provided it when he missed a guilt-edged opportunity in front of goal.