Point for Arsenal but none for Steve

And it had goalless draw written all over it from the moment he took his seat next to Tord Grip.

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McClaren actually managed to stay until the 87th minute, presumably in the forlorn hope that he might see a goal from two teams who toiled through their fatigue, or he might even witness an Englishman do something out of the ordinary. He was to see neither — Arsenal did not have a single English player among their 16 again — although two late goalline clearances, from Nolberto Solano from Gilberto Silva's close range shots, denied the visitors a win and the opportunity to build a four-point lead over Bolton in their desperate bid to nail down a Champions League place for next season. Instead they recorded their first goalless draw in the Premiership for 15 months.

"We wanted to win it and could have nicked a 1-0 win," said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. "There were two good defensive performances and it was a game of little chances but it was important not to lose after three defeats and Newcastle were not ready to take risks.

"Our confidence has dropped because we have lost matches but with the games coming up at home we need to score and I am confident we will. Fourth place for the club is very important for the players, the fans, everyone inside and outside who loves the club. We are used to being in the Champions League and we want to do it again."

Not that Wenger's side had it all their own way. Kieron Dyer returned to the side to play in a role beside and behind Obafemi Martins and the England international proved a lively participant until he was forced off after 52 minutes with a hamstring injury.

He made one promising sprint from halfway which created a first half opening for Damien Duff and then narrowly failed to connect with the Irish winger's well-struck cross.

He also played an inadvertent role in one of Newcastle's best chances, playing Emre's mishit free-kick into the path of Oguchi Onyewu whose firm half volley was kept out instinctively by Jens Lehmann.

That was almost all the home side had to show for their first half efforts although Duff twice watched bouncing efforts clear the Arsenal keeper's goal.

But Dyer's second half input lasted just seven minutes, which left McClaren with just four English players on view, including Newcastle's substitute keeper Steve Harper, and not one in red.

The England manager, who was sat beside Sven-Goran Eriksson's former assistant Grip, could not even view Scott Parker's partnership with Nicky Butt for himself as the Newcastle captain was ruled out with an ankle injury.

And there was very little to keep him and 52,292 others entertained through a dire game in which both sides struggled to break down resolute defences.

The nearest Newcastle came was a cross from the right side of the area from James Milner which deceived Lehmann and bounced against his crossbar.

Emmanuel Eboue meanwhile showed no composure when he lashed a close range shot wide into the hoardings with only Harper to beat.

At least Nicky Butt, a player McClaren would do well to re-consider, tried to prise an opening, stealing the ball from Milner and Abou Diaby at one point to deliver a nasty cross which William Gallas sliced into touch.

And then there was Steven Taylor, the wholehearted Newcastle defender who earned a rare ovation from home supporters for his legitimate jump at Lehmann as they challenged for a loose high ball.

Predictably, Lehmann over-reacted to the aerial assault, along with Emmanuel Eboue and Gallas, who was booked for his reaction along with Taylor by fussy referee Howard Webb, who earlier missed Stephen Carr's elbow on Hleb.

He also missed Diaby's clear foul on Onyewu in the area from Milner's final minute free-kick just seconds after delivering a warning to the pair.

"I thought shirts were changed at the end of the game," said Roeder. "Howard Webb is a fine referee but it was a rugby tackle and you can't do that. You need bravery and courage to blow the whistle and he sold us short. He will be disappointed when he sees it."

A major concern for Roeder is another injury for Shay Given, who was forced out of the game in the 26th minute after stretching his groin trying to keep out a shot from Emmanuel Adebayor.

It is the fourth time this season the Republic of Ireland keeper has been substituted, which is a sorry statistic for a player who once held the record for consecutive appearances in the Premiership.

It also denied Given the opportunity for another starring role in front of Wenger who is still seeking a long-term replacement for Lehmann although in his brief appearance stand-in captain Given made two saves to preserve his clean sheet before Harper took his place.

The first was a low stretch to keep out Alexandre Hleb's drive and then he was forced to make that awkward save at the feet of Adebayor, again reacting with a full stretch to keep a slight touch from the Togo striker from Cesc Fabregas's rare measured pass. Harper's first significant touch was also save to deny Adebayor, who was partnered upfront by Diaby.

Newcastle (4-4-1-1): Given (Harper 26mins); Solano, Onyewu, Taylor, Carr; Milner, Butt, Emre (Luque 89), Duff; Dyer (N'Zogbia 52); Martins. Booked: Taylor.

Arsenal (4-4-2): Lehmann; Eboue, Toure, Gallas, Clichy; Hleb (Julio Baptista 61), Gilberto Silva, Fabregas, Ljungberg; Diaby, Adebayor (Aliadiere 72). Booked: Ljungberg, Gallas.

Referee: Howard Webb.

Man of the match: Nolberto Solano.