Wenger stunned at draw, Pardew proud

A shell-shocked Arsene Wenger refused to be discouraged despite Arsenal failing to protect a four-goal lead at Newcastle United on Saturday.

The Gunners were in unstoppable form early at St James’ Park, with Theo Walcott, Johan Djourou and a Robin van Persie brace combining to put the visitors up 4-0 before the half-hour mark.

But a red card to Abou Diaby in the 50th minute changed the complexion of the game, and 10-man Arsenal were run off their feet by a desperate Newcastle outfit.

Joey Barton, whose rough challenge led to the outburst that got Diaby sent off, added a brace from the penalty spot, Leon Best nabbed another and Cheik Tiote sealed the remarkable comeback as Newcastle snatched a famous 4-4 draw.

Wenger refused to be drawn on the long-term implications of Arsenal’s capitulation, and said there was still reason to be pleased by his side’s sheer dominance in the opening half.

“It was a good game with top intensity. Overall I have to say we played great football and we have to take a lot of positives out of this game,” the Gunners boss told Sky Sports.

“It is difficult at the moment to swallow. But time will help and we will get over that.”

“Overall I think we have to take a lot of encouragement from our first-half performance. We dropped two points, that’s all.”

Wenger admitted Diaby deserved to be sent off for shoving Barton and Kevin Nolan, but said referee Phil Dowd should have shown consistency and shown Barton red for his part in the tackle.

“I think Barton should have been sent off for the same tackle. I don’t think (Dowd) made the right decision – the first foul from Barton was quite bad,” he said.

“What changed is that they got a penalty, 4-1, and from then on we were under pressure.”

Magpies boss Alan Pardew said his players showed tremendous spirit to rebound from a difficult week that included a 1-0 loss at Fulham on Wednesday and the loss of Andy Carroll to Liverpool.

“We went out there and played like lions,” Pardew said.

“At half-time you have to make a call. What I said was that if you want to go out there and feel sorry for yourselves after losing at Fulham and losing a really good young player (Carroll) then you’re going to get embarrassed, but we more than made up for it in the second half.”

“That’s what we’ve been about all year, even before I came here, we’ve shown character.”

“Making a challenge and putting people under pressure. We did that and we got a goal, and that can change any game.”

“It’s one of the most remarkable games I’ve ever been involved in. I’m looking forward to one day looking back at this game and it filling me with pride.”

“The way the fans reacted, the way the players reacted, it was unbelievable.”