GRAEME Souness expressed his delight in triplicate after Newcastle United's stirring single-goal defeat of Arsenal.
The United manager said: "I am delighted with the effort, delighted with the commitment, and delighted for my players.
"In the first half we were a wee bit nervy, but did very well second half.
"With the players we had unavailable, the route we went down was trying to get Arsenal turned. We played a game that suited us."
Of the controversial 58th-minute sending-off by referee Dermot Gallagher of the Gunners' Brazilian midfield star Gilberto for a second booking - a foul on Jean Alain Boumsong - Souness said: "There was a real slap when the collision happened. Maybe that influenced the referee as much as anything."
But Souness recalled the dismissal of former United midfielder Jermaine Jenas in the 2-0 defeat at Highbury on the opening day of the season and pointed out: "The one at their place definitely wasn't a sending-off."
Souness went on to praise the United fans, who got right behind the team, as "fantastic", adding: "They enjoyed the game because they saw their players have a real go.
"In the north we are maybe more confrontational than in other parts of the country. Alan Shearer epitomised that - but that's part of the English game."
And of matchwinner Nobby Solano, who scored his first goal since returning to Tyneside from Aston Villa, Souness said: "Nobby by his own admission could have been doing better, but he did a job throughout today and came up with the goal."
