A Little Bit Of History Changing

As we were 4th seeds, none of the groups were going to be easy. My personal aim is 3rd and then going as far as we can in the Europa League, as I doubt we'll get beyond Porto and Juventus.

But still, Saint-Etienne was tough opposition so I'm happy we've even got into the groups.

Newcastle United manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has confirmed the team will be buying and selling through to Monday's deadline.

Ahead of the deadline on September 3rd, Newcastle have been linked with making an additional signing in attacking midfield, with rumours the team have had bids accepted for Schalke winger Lewis Holtby and Marseille attacking midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa.

The team have also been linked with outgoings, with defender Tamas Kadar linked with Everton, and reports Sven may offload Mikkel Thygesen and Damien Duff.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of tomorrow's game at Old Trafford, Sven declared that his team would be busy until the deadline.

He said, "We are always busy and exploring options to bring in players that we feel with be of benefit to Newcastle United. We know that we could still use one or possibly two additional players to the team, and our scouting team has identified a multitude of targets they feel will benefit the club.

"What we have to do is figure out which ones are the best players to bring in, and also to consider which players can leave."

Sven also spoke of the deal to sell Hungarian defender Kadar to Everton. A £4.7million deal had been arranged between the Merseyside club and the Magpies to sell the defender, but a failure to agree a contract has seen the planned move stall.

Kadar was seen as one of Newcastle's breakout stars last season, with the player making 18 appearances and looking like one of the club's best defenders when he played.

Sven said, "We felt the deal agreed with Everton met the fee we wanted for Tamas, but if he wants to stay, we will respect his decision and use him. I don't know if there is a disagreement between him and Everton on what they want to give him, but we will see what the arrangement is the closer we get to the deadline."

Sven also talked about Newcastle's Champions League group, which saw the team land tricky looking tests against Porto, Juventus and Twente. They open their group with a trip to Turin to face Juventus on September 18th.

He said, "It would be easy to be afraid of the tricky nature of tour group, but the Champions League is not going to be a tournament with easy games in. We knew we would get some big teams with quality players, and we have done, so we know we have to be at our best to take on these teams, and so will they, and that's what makes it an exciting tournament.

"It is exciting for the fans and everyone to be back in this tournament, and we will look forward to playing in this tournament. I would love to make it through to the next round of the competition and we will do everything to make sure its possible."

I'm at a point where I've had offers and contracts accepted by both players. I've found that if I press "Go On Holiday", and then instantly return, the assistant has confirmed both deals and both having joined NUFC, but the problem is I still need to buy a CB as well with *spoiler alert* Kadar joining Everton.

I'm leaning towards Holtby - I've simmed versions where I've bought one but not the other, and also both, and found that Ben Arfa is Champions League ineligible, plus Shearer (my AM) rates Lewis more, particularly in the LW position the player is for.

Two goals from Adam Ljajic helped Manchester United see off Newcastle as Carlo Ancelotti got his first win as manager.

The first win of the new era under the Italian, who succeeded Sir Alex Ferguson in the summer, will have come as a relief to the Glazers who appointed him, and it was the Serbian midfielder that provided the killer touches, with two impressive finishes to see off a Newcastle team that finished only two points behind the Red Devils last season.

James Milner did get a goal back for Newcastle to open his account in his second spell in black and white stripes, but his strike was not enough for Newcastle to get a share of the points, and they were bought back down to earth after their Champions League progression this week.

The game was one of two clashes between last season's top four today, with last season's champions Manchester City winning at Chelsea in the lunchtime election.

This game had many subplots before kick-off, with Ancelotti looking for a first win amid criticism of his standard tactics, and Newcastle seeking a first win at Old Trafford since 1972.

It was the home side who had the earliest attacking intentions, with Tim Krul making good stops to deny Anderson and Wes Brown.

The opening 18 minutes of football saw Manchester United enjoying domination of possession and opportunities, and they came close again when Dimitar Berbatov advanced but shot wide.

Minute 19 then bought a goal for Manchester United. The ball was played forward from the back by Nemanja Vidic to Moussa Sissoko, who was able to hold the ball up before passing it forward to Ljajic. The Serbian attacking midfielder decided to try his luck from 25 yards, and his effort flew beyond Tim Krul into the top corner.

An impressive strike from the Serbian, who is now making a first team spot his own after four years largely spent on the fringes at Old Trafford.

This was the cue for Newcastle to finally create opportunities, with Jose Enrique presented two opportunities, only for both of them to fly off the target.

Sissoko and Brown saw efforts from distance career off the target, while Wayne Rooney had one deflected wide as Manchester United attempt to get a second goal. They were closer from a corner after Rooney's strike was deflected off target, with Berbatov rising highest to meet Ljajic's corner, only for the header to be denied.

Manchester United duly entered the half-time break a goal-up, and they begun the second half again on the front foot, only for Anderson to waste the effort that fell to his feet,

Much closer was Rooney, who saw a powerful effort from distance tipped onto the post by Krul and bounce away from goal, in a very close shave for the home side.

Krul was then tested again, with the Dutch goalkeeper making a very smart stop to tip away Ljajic's powerful drive, before Rooney then hit the post again, with his powerful drive bouncing off the woodwork with Krul beaten.

Red Devils goalkeeper Raul Segura was relatively untroubled on his home debut, but he was alert when he was first called upon, with the young Spanish goalkeeper making a decent save to deny Milner.

Having survived that, Manchester United were in the mood to try for a second, and nearly got it when Johnny Evans rose high to meet a free-kick, only for his header to be cleared off the line by Jose Enrique.

But a second goal was not long in coming. A free-kick was only half-cleared to Darren Fletcher, who flicked the ball on for Anderson, whose nod found Berbatov. The Bulgarian forward evaded Sebastien Bassong and teed up Ljajic, who was in acres of space, and duly converted his second goal of the match.

A good goal for the home team, who were now dreaming of victory and finally finding themselves a first league win of their new era.

It could have been even more comprehensive, but Krul was again in action, with the Dutch keeper making stops to deny Rooney and Berbatov.

Berbatov was still on the hunt for a goal, and a firm left-footed volley was not too far away from finding the back of the net.

With four minutes to go, Newcastle then found themselves an almost unexpected way back into the game. The ball was sprayed out wide to Jose Enrique, who laid it back infield for Luis Suarez. The slippery Uruguayan evaded Brown before playing a tantalising cross into the middle that was gobbled up by Milner.

Milner's first goal of his second spell as a Newcastle player, with a lot of its gestation coming from a superb run by Suarez, and suddenly Newcastle were dreaming of a way back into the clash.

But despite seven minutes of added time at the end of the game, Newcastle were unable to get the goal they needed to take an undeserved share of the points, and they left empty handed.

There was clear relief on the face of Ancelotti, who was happy to finally get off the mark at his new club, and will be hopeful Manchester United can now push on as they seek to win the Premier League trophy for the first time since 2009.

Manchester United: Raul Segura - Brown, Vidic, Evans, Evra - Sissoko - Carrick (Fletcher 64), Anderson (Hargreaves 77) - Ljajic - Berbatov, Rooney (Macheda 77)
Subs not used: Soler, Cahill, Mattock, Valencia

Scorer: Ljajic (19, 65)

Newcastle: Krul - Simpson, Bassong, Kadar, Jose Enrique - Barton, Bender (Suarez 58) - Milner, Donaldson, Obertan (Elm 80) - Dembele (Carroll 45)
Subs not used: Begovic, Jones, Edgar, Morris
Booked: Barton

Scorer: Milner (86)

Referee: Dean Coventry
Attendance: 75,863

Everton have confirmed the signing of Hungarian centre-back Tamas Kadar from Newcastle for £4.7million.

There had been speculation that the Toffees' attempts to sign the Newcastle defender had broken down, with a deal having been agreed a few weeks ago but talks over a contract stalling.

But the Toffees have now confirmed Kadar has made a transfer from the North East to Merseyside. He will join on a three year contract.

Kadar joined Newcastle in January 2008 from Hungarian side ZTE. He made 32 league appearances at St. James' Park in his four and a half year stint with the club - 18 of which came last season.

Kadar was a breakthrough star for Newcastle last season, with the player nominated for two Young Player of the Month awards and seen as legitimate competition for the club's first choice pairing of Jan Vertonghen and Sebastien Bassong.

Newcastle are widely expected to sign an additional defender in his replacement, with the club in talks with Burnley centre-half Andre Bikey, although Manchester United and Bayern Munich have also had bids accepted.

The club are also expected to sign Finland U21 defender Carl Jenkinson, with Newcastle in talks with the 20-year-old right back.

So...




Which would make a better signing?

I have said I'm leaning towards Holtby because Ben Arfa is ineligible for the Champions League as this is after the player registration cut off (annoying, given Marseille aren't in any European competition), and having simmed ones where I've bought them, my backroom staff like him more in the left wing position this signing would be for. But I like HBA in real life and he is worth more off the bat.

I would go for HBA

It's got to be Lewis Holtby for me as imo he looks the better player between the two and he's younger, could be cheaper and more than likely would want less wages than Hatem Ben Arfa so he's my choice and because HBA is ineligible for European Competition, it doesn't make much sense going for him now at the moment.

His contract would actually be £5,000-a-week more. But he is cheaper by £1.5million, and the initial fee (I normally avoid installments deals but on this instance I'm doing it for both these ones) is also £2.5million less.

Makes sense to go with Holtby

Newcastle United have confirmed the signing of Schalke winger Lewis Holtby for £12million.

The German winger has signed a four year contract at St. James' Park after making the big money move from the Ruhr Valley to England, and he will wear the number 14 shirt at St. James' Park.

Holtby joined Schalke in 2009 from Aachen for £2.6million and made 96 league appearances in his four year spell with the club, scoring 31 times. He has also played for the German side in Europe, with games played in the 2010/11 Champions League.

Holtby, whose father was an English soldier based in Germany, has said he is delighted to move to England.

Speaking to the club's official website, he said, "I am delighted to come to England and with a team that will be in Europe. It is hard to leave Schalke, where I have spent four very happy years, but I am excited by the challenge of coming to the land my dad was very glowing of in football, and coming to a team like Newcastle, who had a great season last year and who look like being a force in English football."

Newcastle have also confirmed the signing of Finnish full-back Carl Jenkinson on a free transfer. The 20-year-old right back was released by Charlton at the end of last season, and has moved to the North East on a three year contract.

At the same time as signing Holtby, Newcastle had also been linked with a move to sign French international Hatem Ben Arfa from Marseille. Newcastle did not comment on rumours linking the Frenchman with a move to St. James' Park.

So, LH is just what we'll do.

Good decision in the end Where will you play him?

I needed a left winger for the 4-2-3-1 I usually use, as Dembele felt like he didn't belong there, Suarez is better in CAM/FW role, Milner and Obertan are better as RW's, and Duff is a player I am looking to sell. So, there.

Italy U21 centre back Lorenzo Ariaudo has been joined Newcastle on a season long loan from Juventus.

Ariaudo will join the Magpies on a season long loan move from the Italian giants, and will wear the number 25 shirt at St. James' Park, although he will not be eligible for the Champions League.

The Magpies will pay a loan fee of £2.1million, and the move is confirmed less than 12 hours after target Andre Bikey rejected a contract offer from Newcastle to join Manchester United.

Newcastle manager Sven-Goran Eriksson confirmed he is intending to use the player as back-up to the club's main central defensive pairing of Jan Vertonghen and Sebastien Bassong, but with Vertonghen injured, its likely the Italian defender could make his debut on Wednesday against West Ham United.

Ariaudo has been a Juventus player since 1998 and has made 17 appearances since breaking through into the first team in the 2008/09 season. He has also made 26 league appearances in a loan spell with Empoli. This is his first role in professional football in Italy.

Leeds have signed Newcastle and Ireland winger Damien Duff for a fee of half a million pounds.

Duff, 33, was out of contract at the end of the season at St. James' Park, and following the big money signings of James Milner and Lewis Holtby, Newcastle decided to cash in on the former Chelsea player.

He has signed a one year contract with the Yorkshire club, with Newcastle believed to be paying £3.500 a week towards his wages.

Duff joined Newcastle in 2006 from Chelsea for £5million and made 122 league appearances in his time at the club. The most important of his nine goals was on the final day of the 2008/09 season, where he scored a last minute goal to keep Newcastle in the Premier League.

He has also made 102 appearances for the Republic of Ireland national team, and has been called up to the latest squad ahead of their opening World Cup qualifier against Belarus on September 12th.

Marseille have rejected a part-exchange deal from Newcastle that would've seen Hatem Ben Arfa and Moussa Dembele swap clubs.

Newcastle were believed to have offered a fee of £6.5million plus the Belgian international for the highly-rated 25-year-old French winger, but Marseille have announced they have rejected the swap move.

Ben Arfa had been a reported target of Newcastle before they confirmed the signing of German winger Lewis Holtby yesterday afternoon, and many had expected the move to have died, but Newcastle manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has still decided to make offers to bring the Frenchman to St. James' Park.

The club have also confirmed a deal to sell the Danish winger Mikkel Thygesen in January. Thygesen, who was one of Sven-Goran Eriksson's first signings at St. James' Park and is out of contract in the summer, will join German side FC Koln in January for £2million.

Newcastle have signed Marseille's French winger Hatem Ben Arfa for £11million.

The Frenchman will move for an initial fee of £3.5million, that will rise in installment payments over the next 24 months. He will wear the number 11 shirt at St. James' Park, which was vacated by Damien Duff earlier on deadline day.

Ben Arfa, 25, is the second player to move from Marseille to the Premier League after Loic Remy joined Manchester City earlier in the summer from the French giants.

Ben Arfa made 110 league appearances for OM after joining from Lyon for £10.5million in 2008, and scored 23 goals. He missed the final five months of last season with a broken leg, but has started well this season, with one goal in the first two games of the new Ligue 1 season. However, after Marseille failed to make the European positions last season, Ben Arfa had wanted to leave.

There had been talks Ben Arfa was initially going to join before they signed Lewis Holtby, but the club have decided to splash out on both the attacking midfielders ahead of what is likely to be a very busy season for the club.

Newcastle manager Sven-Goran Eriksson said, "Hatem is a fantastic player and like Lewis and James, will be a player to try and make us ready for a major assault at the top of the table. This is something the fans will want to see us try to do, and something we want to do.

"When we were alerted Hatem would be available for surprisingly less money than we were expecting, and wanted to move, we knew we wanted him to come to St. James' Park. He is a very highly quality player and I look forward to being able to play him in games for Newcastle United."

Its been a busy 48 hours for Newcastle, with the club signing Ben Arfa, Holtby and Carl Jenkinson, and making the loan signing of Italian centre back Lorenzo Ariuado. The club have also sold Damien Duff to Leeds, agreed a deal to sell Mikkel Thygesen to FC Koln in January, and have loaned highly promising youngsters Liam Henderson and Jun Zhang to feeder club Dunfermiline in the Scottish First Division.

Yeah - despite buying LH, a part of me still wanted Hatem playing in a Newcastle shirt. Its going to be a slight squad shift and will mean selling in January, but we can just about afford it, and he's a quality player, so why the fuck not.

Lewis Holtby scored a late goal on his debut as Newcastle beat West Ham in a close encounter in East London.

A tight clash was ultimately decided by a late goal from the visitor's £12million summer signing from Schalke, who had just been about to be replaced by Newcastle manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, and it will be a debut to remember for him in his first game in English football.

It quickly puts Newcastle back on the winning path after they were beaten by Manchester United on Saturday, and continues West Ham's winless start to the Premier League season.

This game had been rearranged from the season's opening week following Newcastle's Champions League qualifier in France. In that time, Newcastle have been busy, with the team reaching the Champions League group stages and signing Holtby and Hatem Ben Arfa for fees that will eventually reach £23million.

Holtby and fellow new boy Lorenzo Ariaudo made full starts for the team, while Ben Arfa started the game as a substitute. But it was a previous big money buy with Newcastle's first opportunity of the match, with Luis Suarez picking up Holtby's through-ball and hitting a powerful shot that Rob Green did very well to turn off target.

West Ham were booed off the field after defeat by Burnley on Saturday, and came close to keeping some of the wolves from their door when Jonathan Spector cued up Dean Ashton, only for the striker to head the ball off target.

Rasmus Elm then tried his luck for the home team, but the Swedish midfielder's dangerous swerving drive was equalled by the flying Green. Long-rangers was still a game Newcastle were attempting, with Jose Enrique trying his own luck from distance, but his drive landed wide of the mark.

Gary Johnson has been criticised for his bizarre substitutions at times, and he did so again on the quarter hour mark when Paolo Assuncao was removed on the quarter hour mark despite no sign of injury.

It didn't seem to make much of a difference, and Newcastle were close when James Milner raced around the defence but couldn't make the shot beat Green.

A chance then seemed to present itself for Ashton, but Ariuado's superb defensive intervention denied him a free run at goal.

Newcastle did attempt to put pressure on the home goal with a corner and penalty box running, but when a chance did come, it came from outside the box from Danny Simpson, and it was an inaccurate strike from the Magpies' right-back into the stands.

The first half dwindled to the end as the two teams begun to cancel each other out, but Newcastle were the team looking likelier to make something happen out of the contest.

The sensation the visitors looked likelier to make a push for the points continued when Elm decided to smash another long-ranger, and again needed a flying stop from Green to deny him.

Jack Collison then had a chance fall to him as West Ham broke to the other end of the stadium, only for the midfielder to fail to get anywhere close to the goal with his header.

Newcastle's lively attack was still causing West Ham problems, but the Hammers were doing enough to limit them to long shots, as happened when Elm saw a drive deflected off target for a corner.

West Ham then tested the goalkeeper for the first time, but failed to do it convincingly, with Ashton's header too easy a stop for Tim Krul.

Radoslav Kovac hit an effort away from the goal in unconvincing fashion, before substitute Ben Arfa teed up Suarez, who in turn forced a flying stop out of Green.

With ten minutes to go, it looked as though the game would drift to a scoreless draw, but then Newcastle found the way through in a very rudimentary fashion. A very long kick by Krul eventually landed through to Holtby, who drifted away from the defence before striking the ball into the bottom corner.

A debut goal for the German winger, who will have been delighted his final contribution before being substituted was a goal at the end of a promising debut in English football.

West Ham finally had chances, but captain Scott Parker was hopelessly off target with a driver before Paul Scharner couldn't beat Krul with his effort.

Injury time did see Newcastle hanging on to an extent, but West Ham were only able to come up with a wayward Parker driver and a Scharner effort straight at Krul.

It was enough for Newcastle to take three points from the game in East London, as they look to make sense of their busy expensive summer. It was a reasonable showing from the Magpies, and they will be looking for even better things when they resume after the internationals with a clash against bogey side Everton, and their Champions League opener against Juventus in Italy.

West Ham: Green - Chretien (Faubert 40), Kovac (Tomkins 58), Radoi, Upson, Spector - Collison, Assuncao (Scharner 15), Parker - Ashton, Diamanti
Subs not used: Murray, Nouble, Raul, Hines

Newcastle: Krul - Simpson, Ariaudo, Bassong, Jose Enrique - Elm, Bender - Milner (Schaars 90), Suarez, Holtby (Dembele 82) - Donaldson (Ben Arfa 62)
Subs not used: Begovic, Edgar, Jones, Carroll
Booked: Elm

Scorer: Holtby (81)

Referee: Mike Jones
Attendance: 34,634

Jose Enrique scored his first Newcastle goal as the Magpies and Everton shared the points in an entertaining contest.

Hatem Ben Arfa's first Newcastle goal put the Magpies in front, but a controversial penalty scored by Yakubu got Everton on level terms within five minutes.

Johnny Heitinga then put Everton ahead, but they only held the lead for five minutes before Enrique's strike, and neither team could find victory in the final 25 minutes of the clash.

The game was a clash between two teams aiming for another successful European challenge, and who have taken different approaches. While Everton opted to field none of their roughly £20million summer captures, Newcastle gave starts for four of their summer signings after a busy summer buying players at St. James' Park.

Newcastle were presented the game's first chance, with the ball falling kindly for Moussa Dembele, only for Tim Howard to pull off a neat stop to deny the Belgian striker.

Tim Krul was then tested at the other end, with the home side's goalkeeper making a firm stop to deny Leighton Baines.

This proved useful as Newcastle took the lead from the game's next attack. A firm 20 yard ball from Danny Simpson was collected by Joey Barton, who played it into the path of Ben Arfa. The French attacking midfielder advanced and hit a powerful drive into the top corner.

A first Newcastle goal for the £11million transfer deadline day buy from Marseille, whose superb strike of the ball was too much for Howard.

Everton were hopeful of finding a quick way back into the contest, and were given it in controversial circumstances. Referee Howard Webb declared that a challenge by Lars Bender on Yakubu while the two were trying to reach Mikel Arteta's corner was illegal, and a penalty kick was granted. Newcastle players, management and fans howled in protest, but their calls fell on deaf ears.

Yakubu stepped up and calmly dispatched the penalty beyond Krul to equalise. It was a first goal of the season in the process for the former Middlesbrough and Portsmouth striker.

Newcastle almost re-took the lead within a minute of kicking off, with Lewis Holtby picked out by a long ball and seeing a firm strike denied by Howard.

Krul was then required to make two saves within quick succession, with his first denying Yakubu and his even better second denying Leighton Baines.

A more rudimentary stop was Krul's next intervention, with Tim Cahill's weak header straight at the Dutch goalkeeper.

The bulk of the first half had failed to live up to the zip and zoom of the opening quarter, but Everton were having chances, and came close in first half injury time when Krul denied Jack Rodwell.

Newcastle then felt they should've had a penalty of their own when they claimed Cahill stopped Joey Barton from reaching the ball as the two competed to reach Holtby's free-kick, but the referee did not pay any attention to the midfielder's protests.

The Magpies then had the first opportunity of the second half, but Ben Arfa's attempt was not as accurate as his first one had been.

Newcastle had looked livelier in the second half of the game, but a wayward Barton hit was the only real effort they created, and their failure to create opportunities was duly punished by a second goal for Everton.

It also came in surprisingly simple fashion, with Heitinga rising highest to a corner and burying a header into the top corner. This was a better moment on Tyneside for the Dutchman, who had been sent off when the two teams met at St. James' Park in May, and it gave his team the platform to take the three points.

But minutes after Jan Vertonghen had headed one wide, Newcastle were back on level terms. Their way back came from the flanks, with Simpson teeing up Barton for a cross. The midfielder's cross picked out Jose Enrique, who turned home unmarked and perhaps from an unexpectedly forward position.

This was the full back's first goal in 148 appearances since joining the club in 2007, and the Spaniard was clearly delighted in finally breaking his account.

Substitute Ryan Donaldson was then the player to try his luck for the Magpies, but he couldn't get his effort onto the target.

Yakubu was then close to finding the game winner for Everton, only for Krul to pull off a magnificent stop to deny him a second goal of the game.

Howard was then alert to deny Donaldson's cross-shot from creeping in unexpectedly, as both sides tried to find what would have been the game's decisive fifth goal.

The winner nearly came with 94 minutes on the clock, only for Yakubu's drive to be denied by the goalkeeper, before Howard made a rudimentary stop to deny Donaldson at the other end of the pitch.

It was a busy encounter for the two teams, with both sides coming close on many occasions to add to the game's four goals. Ultimately, the points were shared after a game both teams could have won on another day, and they will both be hoping it stands them in good stead ahead of tricky European tests in the coming week.

Newcastle: Krul - Simpson, Vertonghen, Bassong, Jose Enrique - Barton, Bender - Milner (Obertan 59), Ben Arfa (Donaldson 78), Holtby - Dembele (Suarez 73)
Subs not used: Begovic, Jones, Ariuado, Schaars
Booked: Simpson

Scorer: Ben Arfa (9), Jose Enrique (71)

Everton: Howard - Castro (Neville 45), Heitinga, Spence, Ribiero - Arteta, Fellaini (Bartley 72), Rodwell, Baines - Cahill - Yakubu
Subs not used: Steele, Eardley, Arboleda, Pepe, Eder
Booked: Ribiero, Fellaini

Scorer: Yakubu (pen 16), Heitinga (66)

Referee: Howard Webb
Attendance: 56,387

Newcastle opened their Champions League campaign with a credible draw against Italian giants Juventus in Turin.

Few gave the Magpies a chance against the Italian giants, but a stout defensive performance for the Magpies saw them cope extremely well, and it could have been even better had they not contrived to miss a number of superb opportunities that fell their way.

It was a fine performance from the English team away in Turin, against a side that was knocked out of last season's Champions League on penalties by eventual winners Barcelona following a 0-0 aggregate result.

This was Newcastle's first Champions League encounter since 2003, and was a return to this corner of Italy in the tournament. Juventus and Newcastle met one another in the first groups in that season, with Juventus winning 2-0 in Italy and Newcastle taking a one goal victory in the game at their home stadium.

Under the watchful eyes of Italy national team boss Alessandro Costaructa, Juventus had anticipated a good show against an English team without the experience of Europe's top tier in ten seasons, and no experience of competitive European football since 2007.

Despite this, it was Newcastle with the game's first opportunity, when Jose Enrique was picked out by Gabriel Obertan's sprightly delivery, but could only head the ball straight at Gianluigi Buffon.

Buffon was tested more with Newcastle's next attempt, with the legendary Italian goalkeeper making a flying stop to deny Luis Suarez after the Uruguayan had wriggled free.

Juventus' first opportunity took a while in creation, and was not an inspiring attempt, with Claudio Marchisio getting his header nowhere near the goal.

Newcastle were doing a very good job in neutralising the host's attacking momentum, and felt they should have had a penalty after 20 minutes, with the referee ruling Domenico Criscito had legally challenged Moussa Dembele rather than ruling foul as the home fans wanted.

The ruling from that was instead a Newcastle corner, and they almost got it home when Giorgio Chiellini's poor defensive header landed past his own goal.

Indeed, when chances were being created, it was the visitors creating them, with Suarez again finding Alex woeful opposition, and again finding an impressive stop from Buffon rather than the back of the net.

Stijn Schaars was then presented a chance to nab his first Newcastle goal, but he couldn't get his effort anywhere near the goal.

Buffon was then alert to keep out a 30-yard drive by Lewis Holtby, and then another stop to deny the German in first half stoppage time as Newcastle showed some impressive footwork.

But they were nearly undone in the seconds before the break, with only a firm stop from Tim Krul denying Sebastian Giovinco from finding the back of the net.

The second half failed to begin with the pace much of the first had been played at, with the first chance taking nine minutes of largely uninspiring football to be created. When it came, it fell the way of the visitors, with Suarez advancing menacingly again, but again failing to find the target.

Juventus then had two superb chances to seize control. First, a menacing drive from Diego was acrobatically tipped into the stands by Krul, then from a free-kick conceded by Holtby as Newcastle were trying to scramble the ball away, Alex's powerful drive rattled the bar with Krul beaten.

Krul then made another firm stop to deny Diego, before Alex then header over at the end of a scramble from a corner. In-between these two chances, Newcastle again appealed in vain for a spot-kick, with the free-kick appeals following a challenge by Alex on substitute James Milner was ignored.

Substitute Andy Carroll was then close with a Newcastle attempt, with the lanky number nine rising highest to Obertan's cross, only to head straight at Buffon.

The final ten minutes of normal time in the match struggled for much imagination, but the six minutes of stoppage time did yield a final chance to win the game. However, Amauri was unable to get his header beyond Krul's firm gloves.

The two teams ultimately shared the points in this tightly coiled encounter, which both sides could legitimately have claimed to have one. Certainly, Newcastle fans apprehensive about returning to Europe's top table in the Stadio Delle Alpi would have been relieved to take something from one of their most difficult fixtures, and could eve nhave been disappointed to have not taken the three points.

Both sides will now look for their first wins in two weeks time, with Newcastle hosting FC Twente and Juventus travelling to face Porto, who won 1-0 in Holland in the other game.

Juventus: Buffon - Grygera (De Ceglie 78), Alex, Chiellini, Criscito - Sissoko - Diego, Marchisio - Giovinco (Felipe Melo 53) - Amauri, Zarate (Paloucci 72)
Subs not used: Manninger, Burdisso, van der Vaart, Palladino
Booked: Grygera, Alex, Sissoko

Newcastle: Krul - Simpson, Vertonghen, Bassong, Jose Enrique - Barton (Jones 88), Schaars - Obertan, Holtby (Carroll 74), Dembele (Milner 63) - Suarez
Subs not used: Begovic, Edgar, Bender, Donaldson
Booked: Barton, Holtby

Referee: Babak Rafati
Attendance: 34,116

Moussa Dembele struck a minute from time to help Newcastle snatch a late draw away at Arsenal.

Samir Nasri looked to have given Arsenal victory as they looked to continue curating a good start for Co Adriaanse in the post-Arsene Wenger career. But with time running out, substitute Dembele rescued a share of the points for the visitors, who drew for the third time in a week after drawing with Everton and Juventus.

It was frustration for the Gunners, who had the better of play and had many opportunities to win the game against the Magpies. But Arsenal ultimately failed to collect the three points.

Arsenal had needed a tonic after a disappointing defeat by Udinese in the Europa League earlier this week, and with Newcastle have not won away at either Highbury or the Emirates Stadium since 2001, they had been hopeful of victory.

It was the home team who had the game's first opportunity, with the ball landing for Nasri, only for the Frenchmen being denied by Tim Krul.

Newcastle's first chance fell to Rasmus Elm, with the Swede playing a trademark drive from long rang, only to fail to provide his usual accuracy.

Elm's low fizzing drive was then another attempt Newcastle had at getting the goal, and the Swede's latest attempt was more accurate, with Manuel Almunia required to make a firm stop.

Krul was then alert to make a nice stop to deny Cesc Fabregas' free-kick, before Havard Nordtveit couldn't provide an accurate effort in a melee from the resulting corner.

Newcastle right-back Danny Simpson was sent off when the two teams played last season at the Emirates, and having already been cautioned, the full-back's foul on Theo Walcott was surprisingly not followed with a second booking.

Tomislav Hormann was then next to try for the Gunners, and he got very close, with his powerful header from a corner rattling the bar, before Nicklas Bendtner forced a save out of Krul from the rebound, although his offside placing meant it wouldn't have counted.

Bendtner was not offside when his next opportunity was presented, but the Danish forward was unable to make the most of his opportunity.

Almunia was then alert in first half stoppage time to stop Lewis Holtby's fizzing drive from finding the back of the net.

The second half begun with Arsenal on the front foot, with Nasri ruffling the side-netting and Krul then pushing away a firm drive by the French winger.

Nordtveit then headed over from a corner as Arsenal looked likelier to make things happen, before Nasri then twisted and turned his way around the Newcastle defence only for Krul to deny him.

Almunia was not put under pressure as much in the second half, but he was alert just after the hour to deny Elm's low drive.

With 20 minutes to go, the tight game then fell the way of Arsenal. Billy Jones committed a foul on Nasri that gave the Gunners a free-kick on the edge of the box. Nasri was entrusted to take the kick, and the winger's beautifully placed effort opened the scoring in style.

A decisive finish from the French winger, who was enjoying a very delightful game on the left flank for the Gunners and who looked to have given his team the big advantage.

Bendtner could've wrapped the game up for Arsenal moments later, only for the Danish striker to inexplicably find the back of the stand rather than the back of the net.

Nasri looked up to find a second, but he was denied by Krul, before the unmarked Theo Walcott was similarly unable to get a strike beyond the Dutch goalkeeper.

Newcastle had finally begun to display signs of attacking life, with some lively attacking movement made by players in black and white stripes, but the only real chance they deployed was hit wide by Ryan Donaldson. They also felt a penalty should have been given, but a tackle by Phillipe Senderos on Hatem Ben Arfa was ruled lawful.

Yet with seconds remaining of normal time, Newcastle then worked a clear opportunity. Jan Vertonghen's quick free-kick was received by Donaldson, who worked it into the path of Dembele, and the Belgian forward's crisp strike landed beyond the grasp of Almunia and home.

A sickening blow for the Arsenal supporters, who appealed in vain for offside, but a moment to savour for the visiting faithful that came down from the North East, who were very happy to grab a goal and rescue a share of the points that had seemed beyond their grasp.

Arsenal tried to re-take the lead, but Walcott's dangerous cross found nobody, before substitutes Eduardo and Vaclev Kadlec could only shoot the ball straight at Krul.

Newcastle then had chances of their own to take a late victory of their own, but both Donaldson and Jones were woefully inaccurate with the shots they fired.

It bought down the curtain on an entertaining encounter between two sides who are both competing for the Champions League places. But both sides will arguably feel they could have been more accurate in their shooting, and will feel this is a chance missed at early season point scoring at the expense of their rivals, although on balance, a Newcastle team that scored in the final minutes and created less will probably be better relieved.

Arsenal: Almunia - Sagna (Eboue 89), Senderos, Hormann, Clichy - Fabregas, Nordtveit, Rosicky - Walcot, Bendtner (Eduardo 85), Nasri (Kadlec 90)
Subs not used: Fabianski, Ramsey, Jay Simpson, Vela
Booked: Sagna, Senderos, Fabregas

Scorer: Nasri (70)

Newcastle: Krul - Danny Simpson (Jones 68), Vertonghen, Bassong, Jose Enrique - Elm (Donaldson 78), Barton - Obertan, Ben Arfa, Holtby (Dembele 72) - Suarez
Subs not used: Begoivc, Ariaudo, Schaars, Milner
Booked: Simpson, Bassong, Jones

Scorer: Dembele (89)

Referee: Lee Probert
Attendance: 56,967

The FA have handed Newcastle United manager Sven-Goran Eriksson a one match touchline ban.

Eriksson was handed the ban after he criticised a decision by referee Lee Probert not to award his team a penalty near the end of his team's 1-1 draw with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

The Newcastle manager will serve his ban during Newcastle's Capital One Cup fixture against Manchester United on Wednesday night.

In a written statement, the FA said, "We are disappointed that despite touchline bans in previous campaigns and having already handed fines and warnings this season, the Newcastle manager Sven-Goran Eriksson is not changing his ways.

"We have no choice but to hand him a touchline ban for his team's next match."

Eriksson was complaining about an incident where he felt his team should have been given a penalty for a challenge made by Phillipe Senderos on Hatem Ben Arfa just before Newcastle's goal.

In his post-match press conference, he said, "We are happy to get a point but we should have got level earlier and would've had the chance had the referee done his jobs. Hatem was clearly through on goal when he was taken out by Senderos, which would have been a spot kick and a red card. That would've tied us up sooner, and we would've had the chance to win the game."

Eriksson received a touchline ban last December after he criticised the referee during a home draw with Stoke City.

Manchester United advanced into the Fourth Round of the Capital One Cup after winning in a penalty shoot out at Newcastle.

The visitors will have been disappointed not to have their chance superiority pay, with the team failing to add to Wayne Rooney's arty lobbed goal just before half-time.

Luis Suarez's first goal since April took the tie to extra-time, but after neither side could find a winner in the additional half an hour, it took penalties to separate the two teams, and former Manchester United captain Alan Smith proved the unlucky misser that ensured the visitors would be the victors.

The game came less than a month after Carlo Ancelotti's first competitive win of his Manchester United managerial reign came against the Magpies in the Premier League. He would not be directly facing his opposite number Sven-Goran Eriksson, who was serving a one game touchline ban after he criticised the referee during Newcastle's draw with Arsenal on Sunday.

The two managers differed in their respective approaches, with Manchester United naming a strong line-up while Newcastle opted to make six changes to the team that begun their game at the Emirates Stadium.

Under the watchful eyes of the Italy and Bosnia national team managers as well as the banished Eriksson, it was the visitors who fashioned the game's first opportunity, but Patrice Evra's impressive run was then followed up with an uninspiring effort that hit the side netting.

From a corner, Nemanja Vidic headed over in a competition Manchester United have earmarked as something to end a trophy drought that stretches back to their 2009 Premier League title.

A superb defensive intervention from Danny Simpson denied Federico Macheda shooting room, before Newcastle's first real opportunity saw Rasmus Elm hit a powerful drive from distance that flew past Raul Segura but found the crossbar.

Very quickly, the visitors went up the other end, with Rooney picked out and hitting a low drive that was superbly denied by Asmir Begovic.

Rooney then rifled a strike high into the stands, before Johnny Evans beat Moussa Dembele to a corner, only for the Northern Irish defender to put the ball wide of the mark.

Newcastle were not having great ease in chance creation, but they did have one when James Milner was released by Elm, only for his strike to land wide of the goal.

Elm was closer with his next effort, but the Swedish midfielder seeing a flowing drive from distance expertly kept out by Spanish goalkeeper Raul Segura.

Despite a 10 minute plus lull, Manchester United were still looking likelier to make something happen, with Rooney again presented a chance only for his drive to be kept out by a deflection, before a similar deflection kept out Vidic's effort just before the half-time period.

With half-time looming, both sides were hoping for the uplift of a pre-interval strike, and it nearly fell to Newcastle, with Stijn Schaars seeing a drive from distance just touch the bar on its way over the top.

Instead, there was a pre-half-time goal, and it fell the way of the visitors. The ball was worked up to Macheda, who laid it back to Anderson. His pass cut out Sebastien Bassong and picked out Rooney, who always had yards on Lorenzo Ariaudo. Now in space, the England talisman decided to try and chip the ball over Begovic, and he pulled it off superbly, with the ball nestling into the goal.

An impressive strike from a player that enjoys scoring against the team who he nearly joined instead back in 2004, and Rooney had given the visitors the lead in this encounter.

Newcastle used two substitutes at half-time and another within five minutes of the restart, but it was the visitors who made the early running, with Darren Fletcher and Rooney presented chances, only to fire them woefully away from the target.

The Magpies duly punished this profligacy with an equaliser. The ball was cued up to Ryan Donaldson, who jinxed his way past two before sending in a teasing cross-shot. Evans' clearance was insufficient, and the steamrolling Suarez hit a powerful first time drive into the bottom corner.

Suarez's first goal since April was a clear relief to the £12million buy from Ajax, and his manager will be hopeful this goal will begin to inspire a turn around in form.

The two players involved in Newcastle's equaliser almost combined for a counter-attack, with only a superbly timed defensive intervention by Vidic preventing room for Donaldson to convert Suarez's through-ball.

A surprisingly unspectacular run through to the end of the game saw Moussa Sissoko head the only chance straight for a long period of the game at Begovic.

Raul Segura was then alert to make a stop, with the Spanish goalkeeper making a great stop to deny Alan Smith's rasping drive.

This was the last action of the regular 90 minutes, and the game duly progressed into an additional half hour of football to try and find a winner.

However, the two teams' exhaustion was catching up with them, with one unsuccessful cross by Milner the only thing either side could create in the opening 13 minutes of the half.

The visitors were then looking for the goal, with an angled drive by Danny Welbeck kept out by Begovic, and Adam Ljajic's rebound held by the home team's Bosnian goalkeeper.

By contrast, the second half of the contest was even flatter, and it took second half stoppage time for a hint of an opportunity to appear. That fell to Rooney, who was denied by Begovic.

Newcastle then almost found a winner themselves, with Donaldson evading Vidic before his powerful drive was denied by Raul Segura.

Sissoko then saw an effort deflected into the gloves of Begovic, in what transpired to be the final effort of the game and the match duly went to a penalty shoot-out.

After Owen Hargreaves scored the opening kick of the shoot-out, Smith stepped up and saw his penalty kept out of the goal by Raul Segura.

No other player missed during the shoot-out, so with the score at 4-3, it fell on the shoulders of Welbeck to conclude the contest and send Manchester United into Round Four.

He managed it, and it concluded the contest in favour of a Red Devils team looking for their first trophy in four seasons. It was celebration on the part of the visitors, who will have a winnable 4th Round tie against Championship side Scunthorpe United in a month's time.

Newcastle: Begovic - Simpson, Ariaudo (Vertonghen 45), Bassong, Jose Enrique - Elm, Schaars, Smith - Milner, Dembele (Donaldson 50), Obertan (Suarez 45)
Subs not used: Krul, Edgar, Bender, Ben Arfa
Booked: Smith

Scorer: Suarez (62)

Manchester United: Raul Segura - Brown, Vidic, Evans, Evra - Hargreaves - Carrick (Ljajic 45), Anderson - Fletcher (Sissoko 76) - Rooney, Macheda (Welbeck 63)
Subs not used: Kuszczak, Mattock, Valencia, Mollo
Booked: Brown, Evra

Scorer: Rooney (44)

Referee: Mike Jones
Attendance: 56,387

Second half strikes from Hatem Ben Arfa and Moussa Dembele saw Newcastle take three points against Fulham.

The visitors from London had actually created the better chances of the first half, but their profligacy was punished by Ben Arfa's second goal in as many home games for his new club.

The game was wrapped up when Dembele scored with his only touch after appearing as a final minutes substitute, and it ensured Newcastle won continued their decent start.

Fulham will be disheartened by this result, which prolongs their winless start to the new season.

Things might have gone differently had Fulham scored with an attack they worked out straight from kick-off. A firm stop cross by Andy Johnson, who picked out James Henry, only for the winger's header to be straight at Tim Krul.

Johnson then had a chance of his own when he was first to Brede Hangeland's knockdown at a corner, but he was denied by Krul.

Newcastle's first opportunity was a very impressive one, with Ben Arfa heading cries of "Shoot" from the crowd with a powerful effort that former Sunderland goalkeeper Marton Fulop did extremely well to tip onto the bar.

Krul was still alert, with the Dutch keeper making a good save to deny Diomansy Kamara.

Both keepers were getting a busy early workout, with Fulop making a fantastic stop to Ben Arfa in a one-on-one, before Krul made a superb stop to deny Johnson.

An offside prevented Johnson from converting the rebound, and from the free-kick, Newcastle eventually fashioned a chance for Luis Suarez, with Fulop making a superb stop to deny the Uruguayan's volley.

Newcastle then came close twice in quick succession, but neither Sebastien Bassong nor Gabriel Obertan could find the target with their efforts.

Both teams were missing the chances presented to them, and the profligacy continued when Paolo Sammarco was unmarked at a corner but couldn't find the target.

Fulop was then on hand to make a nice stop to deny Ben Arfa when the Frenchman had broken free, before Lewis Holtby's free-kick was wildly inaccurate.

Sammarco's half-volley that flew over was the final action of an entertaining half, and both sides left the field believing that they still had it in them to take the three points in this fixture.

The eventful nature continued at the start of the second half, with the first opportunity seeing Hangeland head over before Joey Barton failed to keep a free-kick down.

Barton then had a banana shot fly off target, but Newcastle were beginning to probe, and with 64 minutes on the clock, they had their breakthrough.

A fluid ball down the right-hand side by Danny Simpson evaded Aaron Hughes and was received down the right hand flank by Suarez, who ran free in acres of space to the penalty are. The Uruguayan could've shot, but instead laid it off in the middle of the six yard box, and Ben Arfa, who had always got a run on Hangeland, tapped the ball home.

A second goal in as many home appearances for the big money transfer deadline day signing from Marseille, who is looking like the best of Newcastle's three expensive summer recruits.

Fulham struggled to recover from this blow, but were still giving it a go, and their best chance came 14 minutes after the goal when nobody tracked the run of Hassan Yebda, and the midfielder's drive was well denied by Krul.

Fulham fans urged their heroes forward, but after the game was halted for an injury that ended Holtby's afternoon, Newcastle had the final chances, with a banana shot by Rasmus Elm landing wide.

Newcastle then wrapped up the points on 96 minutes. A half-clearance by Stephen Kelly was intercepted by Bassong, who played it for Ben Arfa. A wonderful ball from the Frenchman released Moussa Dembele, who advanced before finishing.

That ended any chance the result would end in anything other than a Newcastle victory, and the Magpies picked up their third win of a season. The fans are hoping for big things after last season's 4th place finish and the signing of £39million worth of new talent in the summer, and this result stands them in good stead ahead of a Champions League meeting with FC Twente on Wednesday.

Fulham will be disappointed, with the West Londoners having many attempts to register their first win of the season away at a team they have done surprisingly well at in recent seasons, and they slink back still searching for their first league win since the final day of last season back in May.

Newcastle: Krul - Simpson, Vertonghen, Bassong, Jose Enrique - Barton, Schaars (Elm 60) - Obertan, Ben Arfa, Holtby (Dembele 90) - Suarez (Milner 83)
Subs not used: Begovic, Jones, Ariaudo, Donaldson
Booked: Barton

Scorer: Ben Arfa (64), Dembele (90+6)

Fulham: Fulop - Pantsil, Hangeland, Briggs, Hughes - Henry (Kelly 60), Sammarco (Yebda 45), Etuhu, Kamara - Zamora (Konchesky 50), Johnson
Subs not used: Simonsen, Foster, Bramble, Dempsey

Referee: Peter Oakley
Attendance: 54,310

Moussa Dembele and Gabriel Obertan got the goals to give Newcastle a win over Twente in the Champions League.

The Magpies first win in Europe's premier club competition since beating Bayer Leverkusen in 2003 came through a first half goal by Newcastle's in-form Belgian attacker, and then a goal just before the hour by Obertan, which were blows that the visitors could not respond from.

It was an unsatisfying return to the North East for Twente boss Steve McClaren, who was making only his third managerial return to England since being sacked by the national team in 2007.

McClaren had an inconsistent record against Newcastle as manager of Middlesbrough, and failed to win either of his visits to England with Twente away at Arsenal in 2008 and Everton in 2010.

They had also been beaten in their Champions League opening fixture at home to Porto, and had presumably been hopeful of a victory against the surprise Champions League qualifiers from last season.

Presumably averse of suffering a hammering that would have severely damaged their chances of progressing into the next round of the competition, Twente's defensively minded starting eleven started well in frustrating the hosts, with Newcastle struggling to make early opportunities.

Indeed, it took 19 minutes for one of the two teams to create anything resembling a chance. That chance fell to Rasmus Elm, but the Swedish midfielder's half volley was deflected off target.

The game was of a surprisingly tight nature, before Twente then had the game's best chance, when a bold hit by Ronnie Stam beat Tim Krul but firmly rattled the bar rather than the net.

Newcastle were still finding chance creation a bigger challenge than they have been in the Premier League, and when they did get a chance with 34 minutes on the clock, they failed to make it count, with Obertan's wild hit nowhere near the goal.

It took Newcastle 39 minutes to make their first attempt on target, but that proved to be just what they needed. A counter-attack started by a superb tackle by Danny Simpson on Bryan Ruiz released James Milner, who flew down the right flank before releasing Luis Suarez. Expected to shoot, the former Ajax striker instead released Dembele, who advanced and finished.

A second goal in five days for the Belgian striker, who is finally adjusting to life in the black and white stripes of Newcastle United after a difficult first season playing for the club.

Newcastle then almost made it two in the moments before half-time when Dembele released Milner, only for a save by his former Aston Villa teammate Brad Guzan to deny him.

While the first half had proved challenging for Newcastle's attack, the second started with much more easily yielding opposition. Guzan made a nice stop to deny Obertan before Danny Simpson saw a long range effort just touch the woodwork.

Twente's best chance had seen Theo Janssen force a simple stop out of Tim Krul, and they almost fell further behind when Guzan made a flying stop to deny Dembele.

Despite that, Newcastle still looked dangerous and soon doubled their lead. A free-kick was given for a foul by Stam on Elm, and Milner's free-kick released Obertan, whose powerful header sailed beyond Guzan.

A perfectly placed header by the winger, which looked to have given his team a winning margin in this encounter.

Another one of Elm's trademark long range goals almost made the margin even greater, but the ball landed inches past the wrong side of the post.

A free-header saw Ruiz almost bring Twente back into the contest, but he couldn't find the target.

A superb pass by Stijn Schaars then released Obertan, but Guzan superbly tipped his piledriver away from goal.

Obertan and substitute Andy Carroll then missed late chances to give Newcastle a three goal margin as the game begun to wind down, while Marc-Antoine Fortune hit a long ranger over in Twente's best attempt to gain pride.

In the end, victory was for the home team, and they were undoubtedly elated in obtaining three points in the Champions League, and after four points from their opening two games, they sit in a rosier position than many had given them anticipation of doing. Newcastle will now be hopeful of continuing further when they face Porto in their next tie.

It was another disappointing return to England for McLaren, and he will now be hoping for a result against Juventus to avoid the sensation his team are heading straight towards bottom spot in this group.

Newcastle: Krul - Simpson, Vertonghen, Bassong, Jose Enrique - Elm (Barton 81), Schaars - Milner, Dembele, Obertan (Carroll 81) - Suarez (Donaldson 88)
Subs not used: Begovic, Jones, Edgar, Bender
Booked: Jose Enrique, Bassong, Schaars

Scorer: Dembele (39), Obertan (59)

Twente: Guzan - Koubsky (Grunholz 82), Linko, Douglas, Verberne (Samaras 60) - Sabri Sarioglu (Jansma 45), Stam, Brama, Janssen, Ruiz - Fortune
Subs not used: Jarstein, Berger, Molenaar, Tozser

Referee: Andrea de Marco
Attendance: 55,621

Still loving his mate, great idea

Thanks

Been doing very very well since the reboot.

idea's for CB. Shawcross? Vlaar? Ivanovic?