Premier League: Newcastle 4 Arsenal 4

Newcastle scored four goals in the final 22 minutes to rescue a point and dent Arsenal’s title chances in an astonishing game at St James’ Park.

The visitors cruised into a four-goal lead after 26 minutes and seemed set for an easy victory as the home fans headed for the exits.

But, after Abou Diaby was sent-off early in the second half, the game was turned on its head as the hosts mounted an incredible comeback that could have ended with them taking all three points.

But in the end they had to settle for a draw after two Joey Barton penalties, a Leon Best strike and Cheik Tiote’s outrageous 30-yard volley as the game headed into injury-time.

And the result was a huge blow to Arsenal, who are four points behind Manchester United having played one more game than the league leaders.

Both sides made two changes after their mid-week games, but it was Arsenal who immediately looked the more composed as they made a stunning start, taking the lead within 45 seconds.

There was little on when the ball was played to Andrey Arshavin in midfield, but the Russian, recalled to the side after his fine performance as a substitute against Everton, played the ball behind the Newcastle defence.

Theo Walcott then turned on the after-burners as he sped past Fabricio Coloccini before slotting into Steve Harper’s net.

And the lead was doubled just two minutes later, with Newcastle being made to pay for giving the ball away from the restart. Arshavin was again involved in the goal, as his in-swinging free-kick was headed home with ease by Johan Djourou for his first professional goal.

The home fans were stunned, and within 10 minutes it was 3-0. Again the defending was simply woeful as Walcott was given time and space to pick out an unmarked Robin van Persie, who fired home with his right foot from six yards out.

Arsenal were toying with their hosts, and made it four after 26 minutes as van Persie headed home unmarked from six yards out as the Newcastle defence went absent without leave once again, causing the home fans to leave in their thousands.

The visitors were seemingly home and dry, but Diaby got himself sent off at the start of the second half after completely losing his composure.

The midfielder was upset after a strong challenge on him by Joey Barton and reacted by grabbing his opponent’s neck and forcing him to the ground before pushing Kevin Nolan, giving referee Phil Dowd little option but to send him off.

That lifted the hosts and they pulled a goal back when Laurent Koscielny was judged, extremely harshly, to have fouled Leon Best. Barton slotted home before Nolan shoved Wojciech Sczcesny to the ground. Bizarrely, the Pole was booked but Dowd failed to punish Nolan.

And Newcastle pulled another back when Best got the better of Koscielny before firing into the far corner.

Szczesny then made two stunning saves as Newcastle piled on the pressure, and they got a third from the spot after Koscielny was harshly adjudged to have fouled Mike Williamson.

And the comeback to end all comebacks was completed when Tiote lashed a cleared free-kick past Szczesny to spark scenes of delirium in the stands.