On Saturday, February 5, 2011, Arsenal made history as a side that led a Premier League game 3-0 inside the opening 10 minutes and 4-0 after 26 minutes but fell short of a win when the final whistle was blown.
The Gunners traveled to St. James’ Park in second place, seeking to close the gap on league leaders Manchester United – as they chased their first league title since 2004 when they won it unbeaten.
In an electric atmosphere in Newcastle, Arsenal were 3-0 up inside the opening ten minutes against the Magpies who looked stunned and their manager, Allan Pardew, seemingly out of ideas.
Theo Walcott (first minute), Johan Djourou (third minute), and Robin van Persie (10th minute) had all thumped into Steve Harper’s net and the game looked all over when Van Persie headed in the fourth in the 26th minute.
Arsenal were in dreamland. However, after the break, things rapidly changed for Arsenal – this was greatly due to a red card shown to French midfielder Abou Diaby for retaliation on Joey Barton’s firm challenge.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, however, refused to condemn Diaby, who was 24 at the time, for the send-off.
ALSO READ: Ex-Arsenal midfield engine Alex Song retires from football
The stage was set for a classic Newcastle United comeback – a side that was still reeling from the transfer deadline day departure of star striker Andy Carroll, who had joined Liverpool for £35 million, at the time the record for a British footballer.
The hosts staged one of the English Premier League’s most sensational comebacks. Wenger watched on in disbelief as his side blew a chance to keep the pressure on United when a fourth consecutive Premier League victory appeared to be in the bag.
Barton began the comeback from the penalty spot (68th minute) after Laurent Koscielny brought down Leon Best, who then scored a close-range effort to make it 4-2 with 15 minutes remaining.
In the 83rd minute, Barton stepped up to the spot again after Koscielny was adjudged to have fouled Mike Williamson before Cheick Tiote blasted into Arsenal’s net with a left-footed volley to earn the Magpies a point. That was his first goal for the club.
