Half-Time Report: Demba Ba puts Newcastle level

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 29 December 2012

Demba Ba scores in the 44th minute to cancel out Theo Walcott's opener and send Newcastle into the break all square with Arsenal.

A Demba Ba strike one minute before the interval has cancelled out Theo Walcott's opener to send Arsenal and Newcastle into the break all square.

Theo Walcott celebrates scoring the opener against Newcastle on December 29, 2012 © PA Photos

The visitors had the first clear opening in the 18th minute as Ba got on the end of a corner, only to steer his header over the bar.

Newcastle were punished for this miss just two minutes later as the Gunners took the lead. Walcott beat the offside trap before cutting inside and curling an effort into the bottom corner.

Theo Walcott and Fabricio Coloccini battle for the ball on December 29, 2012 © PA Photos

The Magpies began to dominate possession but almost went 2-0 down when Lukas Podolski found Walcott inside the penalty area, only for the England international to be denied by Tim Krul.

Newcastle found the equaliser with just one minute of the half left to play, and it came with a stroke of luck. Ba lined up a free kick, but his effort deflected off the back of Jack Wilshere, sending it beyond Wojciech Szczesny.