Newcastle United and Arsenal have again been involved in a match which will be talked about long after the final whistle.
Last season's 4-4 draw was one of the matches of the season but today's scoreless draw will be remembered for the wrong reasons after Gunners debutant Gervinho was sent off in controversial circumstances.
In the 75th minute of the St James' Park meeting, the former Lille striker went down in the area under what appeared to be very minimal contact from Cheik Tiote, and what followed after is sure to be reviewed by the Premier League hierarchy.
Joey Barton picked Gervinho up off the ground and remonstrated with him after he fell and it was the provocation from the controversial Barton which forced the red card on Gervinho.
Video replays of the footage will clearly show that the Magpies midfielder feigned injury when he was struck slightly on the side of the face with an open hand but referee Peter Walton clearly did not see the contact (or lack thereof) and brandished the red.
Barton should not have got involved with the Ivorian striker and it is not a players place to manhandle an opponent after he has gone down although he was probably reeling after Alex Song earlier stamped on his heel and was not sent off.
Apart from all of this there was a football match played which saw Arsenal dominate possession although the Magpies had good chances of their own but neither side were able to get one past the opposing keeper and had to settle for a point each in a fiery start to the 2011/12 campaign.
Newcastle United: 0 Arsenal: 0 St James' Park, Newcastle
Yellow cards:NEW - Fabricio Coloccini 45+1', Cheik Tiote 67', Joey Barton 76' ARS - Alex Song 29', Kieran Gibbs 48', Tomas Rosicky 52', Wojciech Szczesny 78' Red card:ARS - Gervinho 76'
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