WHEN his side last visited Arsenal in January, Graeme Souness' much-publicised bust-up with Craig Bellamy served to highlight the deep divisions and explosive personalities ripping apart the Newcastle camp.

Eight months on, and Souness has failed to replace Bellamy, struggled to attract transfer targets to Tyneside and stripped the United squad of a number of star names. But, on the evidence of yesterday's unfortunate 2-0 defeat at Highbury, he has finally achieved one of his over-riding ambitions. For the first time in a long time, Newcastle appear to be united.

With the controversial first-half dismissal of Jermaine Jenas threatening to add to Souness' current list of woes, Newcastle's ten men rolled up their sleeves and produced the kind of battling performance that has been conspicuous by its absence in the last two or three years.

Whereas previous United sides might have rolled over in the face of such misfortune, the tigerish Scott Parker led a spirited second-half display that augured well for the rest of the campaign.

That it ultimately counted for nothing - Thierry Henry's 81st-minute penalty and Robin Van Persie's 87th-minute second robbing Newcastle of a thoroughly-deserved point - will have mattered less to Souness than the manner of his side's rousing response.

While the Scot's summer rebuilding programme has not gone as smoothly as the construction of Arsenal's new Emirates Stadium - the club's home from the start of next season - the foundations for a long-term revival may yet be in place.

The capture of a striker before the end of the month remains an absolute necessity with Newcastle failing to record a single shot on target all game.

But, in Parker and Emre, Souness has at least signed two players willing to give their all in a black and white shirt. As regular watchers of the club will attest, that has not always been given in recent years.

With Bellamy banished, Shola Ameobi suspended and Michael Chopra injured, Alan Shearer was the visitors' solitary striker a day after celebrating his 35th birthday.

"I've got my boots Graeme" read one banner in the Newcastle end. Unless either Michael Owen or Fredi Kanoute arrives in the next two weeks, the Magpies manager might need them.

Yet, while the summer's lack of transfer activity hardly provided the ideal backdrop to the start of a new campaign, Newcastle's bright opening belied their recent strife.

With the industrious Parker and the impressive Emre at the fore, United's five-man midfield proved adept at shackling Arsenal's creative talents.

They also carried an attacking threat, with Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer constantly looking to support Shearer from their respective flanks.

Newcastle being Newcastle, the sprightly start was marred by the occasional blemish, and Stephen Carr was fortunate to escape unpunished when his errant touch almost proved fatal in the 15th minute.

Dennis Bergkamp was alert to the full-back's miscontrol but, after claiming possession 20 yards from goal, the Dutchman could only curl a tame shot into the arms of a watchful Shay Given.

That proved a rare early sighter for the Gunners, though, and, with their counter-attacking potential sporadically evident, Newcastle quickly settled into a position of some comfort.

Indeed, the visitors could have even claimed the lead had Shearer not dragged a 17th-minute strike wastefully wide after being sent into the inside-right channel by Jenas.

Jenas' future has been the subject of some conjecture in recent weeks, with the England international linked with a move to both Tottenham and yesterday's opponents, Arsenal. So, given the quixotic nature of football, it was perhaps inevitable that he would find himself at the heart of the game's most critical and controversial decision.

With Gilberto Silva loitering in possession, Jenas opted to throw himself into a tackle.

The challenge was at worst ill-advised, Jenas got a clear touch on the ball and at no time did the Newcastle midfielder leave the ground, yet, despite his view being obscured by both Parker and Robert Pires, referee Steve Bennett still produced a straight red card.

Like all Premiership referees, Bennett, who allowed Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink's last-gasp handball to stand against Newcastle on the opening day of last season, has been told to stamp out any tackles in which a player becomes airborne. Clearly, he has a strange view of where the ground stops and thin air begins.

Reduced to ten men, the Magpies inevitably found themselves under increased pressure. Henry, who had been a peripheral presence to that point, was suddenly roused into action, although last season's Premiership top scorer sent a diving header over the top after fine work on the right flank from Lauren.

Bergkamp also discovered a new-found momentum in the wake of Jenas' dismissal, although the attacking ambitions of one of the title favourites remained subdued in the face of some feverish Newcastle defending.

Parker exemplified United's commitment to the cause nine minutes after the break, throwing himself into a magnificent last-ditch tackle to thwart Freddie Ljungberg as the Swede threatened to wriggle into an opening following a scramble on the edge of the six-yard box.

With Emre and Bowyer matching the former Chelsea midfielder for mettle, Given also got in on the act with a superb smothering save from Ljungberg after Gilberto had finally located a gap in the Newcastle defence.

But, just as the Magpies looked like holding out for a defiant draw with the game entering its final ten minutes, they paid a heavy price for their first mistake of the afternoon.

Substitute Charles N'Zogbia caught Ljungberg in the penalty area forcing the Swede to kick the turf, and Henry converted from the spot despite Given almost getting a hand to his strike.

As if to rub salt into the wounds, Arsenal added a second with three minutes left, Van Persie glancing Ljungberg's cross past a helpless Given at the near post.

Arsenal 2 Newcastle United 0.

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