1'
Arsenal get the game underway!
2'
Ameobi whips in a fierce cross from the left, but a foul's given against Carroll for a push.
3'
Newcastle look to be going the direct route early on and trying to unsettle Arsenal. With Carroll up front, they've got a man with the presence to cause problems.
5'
Jonas goes over as he tries to burst into the area from the left, but there's no suggestion of a penalty.
5'
Nasri and Fabregas combine well and the former slips a pass through for Walcott, but even lightning quick Theo can't reach that.
7'
Enrique blocks off Sagna as he tries to send a cross in. Arsenal throw.
7'
Arsenal win a soft free-kick on the right for a foul by Tiote.
8'
Fabregas crosses to the far post, but Newcastle clear the danger.
8'
Song tries to find Chamakh, but the ball comes back off the striker's heel. Arsenal are improving now.
9'
Barton sends a long cross in for Carroll, but it's too long and Carroll ends up looking a bit silly.
11'
Walcott threatens to race away. He's crowded out, but offloads it to Nasri, who's also crowded out. Newcastle clear.
11'
Fabregas plays a pass ahead of Wilshere, and Coloccini gives away a foul in a potentially dangerous position.
12'
Fabregas sends the free-kick towards goal but it flicks off a Newcastle head and hits the bar! Arsenal have a corner.
13'
Newcastle manage to clear the danger.
15'
Walcott receives the ball on the edge of the area but seems to kick the ball into his own leg and it's out for a goal kick.
17'
Fabregas flicks the ball out of play in uncharacteristic style. Arsenal haven't quite found their groove just yet.
18'
Fabregas receives the ball in a dangerous position and battles to get a shot away, but Newcastle scramble it behind for a corner.
19'
Arsenal win another corner, but fail to make much of that either.
21'
Nasri weaves his way down the left but his pass fails to make a connection.
23'
 Clichy flies in recklessly on Gutierrez and Mike Dean gives him a deserved booking.
27'
Tiote is down injured in the centre circle so Song puts the ball out of play.
28'
Tiote looks to have a bit of cramp. He should be all right.
28'
Alan Smith's warming up now, so maybe he won't...
30'
Wilshere fouls Barton and Mike Dean's telling Fabregas to pipe down.
31'
Barton lofts the free-kick into the box but it's hoofed clear.
31'
Wretched touch from Chamakh and Enrique is able to nip in and dispossess him.
32'
 Tiote is booked for a pull-back.
34'
Nolan looks to find a way into the box but he, and then Ameobi, is crowded out. Arsenal break but Simpson deals with it. This game has been pretty poor so far.
37'
Wilshere looks to find Chamakh with a long ball over the top, but he's offside.
39'
Fabregas works a little bit of magic and breaks through a sturdy Newcastle backline, but Chamakh fails to control it and Newcastle clear.
39'
Arsenal win it back and Fabregas fires in a shot from out wide, but they have to settle for a corner.
40'
Fabregas centres to Nasri from the corner and it takes a fine save from Krul to deny him.
40'
Newcastle break, then Arsenal break and win a corner.
41'
The corner is poor and Newcastle clear. We're finally seeing a bit of action as the half draws to a close.
42'
A gap appears to open up in front of Walcott, but he chooses to go wide and ends up laying it back.
44'
Gutierrez, who's had a poor first half, fails to control a crossfield pass.
45'
 GOAL FOR NEWCASTLE!
45'
Carroll rises to head home a deep Barton free-kick, but there will be serious questions about Fabianski.
45'
The goalkeeper is nowhere near it as Carroll rises to power into the empty net.
45'
It's half-time, and a section of the Arsenal fans boo their team from the field. It's been pretty poor stuff from the hosts by their standards.
45'
We'll be back with all the updates from the second half.