By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor

At St. James' Park

Newcastle United 0

Arsenal 1 (Oxlade-Chamberlain 52)

Ten-man Newcastle United suffered a 1-0 home defeat against Arsenal in the Barclays Premier League.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's deflected second-half strike proved the difference between the sides at St. James' Park, while the Magpies had to play with a numerical disadvantage for 74 minutes following a straight red card to Aleksandar Mitrovic.

The Serbian front man was dismissed - seemingly harshly - for an early foul on Francis Coquelin, and from that moment on it was an uphill battle for United.

Theo Walcott twice threatened for the Gunners before half-time but Oxlade-Chamberlain finally broke the deadlock on 52 minutes with a low, angled drive that took a nick off Fabricio Coloccini's heels on the way through.

Goalkeeper Tim Krul made a handful of excellent saves to keep Newcastle in touching distance but at the other end they were unable to conjure up the equaliser their endeavours deserved.

The Magpies now have 16 days before their next fixture, at West Ham United on Monday, 14th September.

Both sides roared out of the traps and the opening exchanges were played at a frenetic pace.

Arsenal created the first chance of the afternoon when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Hector Bellerin combined down the right to release Walcott. However, Tim Krul raced off his line to smartly block the front man's effort.

United responded almost immediately and Georginio Wijnaldum did well to create space for himself in the middle of the park before threading a pass in behind the Gunners' rearguard.

Sissoko was onto it like a flash, striding away from Nacho Monreal and Laurent Koscielny but dragging his low effort across goal and wide of the far post.

Newcastle's afternoon got a lot tougher in the 16th minute when Mitrovic was handed a straight red card for a foul on Coquelin.

The Serbian front man controlled a long ball forward on his chest and then, as it dropped, challenged with Coquelin for the loose ball. The Arsenal man arrived a split second before and was duly caught by Mitrovic.

Having awarded a free-kick, referee Andre Marriner contemplated his options for a moment before dismissing Mitrovic, much to the shock of almost everyone inside St. James' Park.

The visitors were looking to make their numerical advantage count and should have broken the deadline just past the half-hour mark.

When Alexis Sanchez pulled the trigger on a bouncing long-range strike, Krul could only push it into the path of the on-rushing Walcott. However, the Dutchman redeemed himself immediately, springing to his feet to put the England international under pressure and force Walcott to fire the rebound high into the Leazes End.

The second half was seven minutes old when Arsenal took the lead.

Ramsey's 20-yard strike was parried clear by Krul but the ball fell invitingly to Oxlade-Chamberlain, who steadied himself before finding the far corner with a low drive that took a deflection off Fabricio Coloccini's heels on the way through.

Having got their noses in front, the Gunners soon went in search of number two, and Krul had to be at his best to keep out Sanchez's near-post effort, after the Chilean had held off the challenge of Coloccini and spun inside the area.

On 77 minutes Krul saved well from substitute Olivier Giroud, who was looking for his ninth goal in just seven games against the Magpies, and despite a huge effort from everyone in a black and white striped shirt, the Magpies were unable to produce an equaliser.

Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Tim Krul; Daryl Janmaat, Chancel Mbemba, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Massadio Haidara; Vurnon Anita (Ayoze Perez 72), Jack Colback; Moussa Sissoko (Papiss Cisse 78), Georginio Wijnaldum, Florian Thauvin (Siem de Jong 87); Aleksandar Mitrovic

Subs not used: Karl Darlow, Steven Taylor, Cheick Tiote, Gabriel Obertan

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Petr Cech; Hector Bellerin, Gabriel, Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal; Francis Coquelin, Santi Cazorla (c); Aaron Ramsey, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Mike Arteta 81), Alexis Sanchez; Theo Walcott (Olivier Giroud 69)

Subs not used: David Ospina, Mathieu Debuchy, Kieran Gibbs, Calum Chambers, Joel Campbell

Referee: Andre Marriner (West Midlands)

Bookings: Newcastle United - Sissoko (3), Mbemba (19), Thauvin (26), Anita (48), Wijnaldum (49), Coloccini (90); Arsenal - Cazorla (49)

Sendings off: Newcastle United - Mitrovic (16); Arsenal - none

Attendance: 50,388 (3,200 Arsenal)