Keegan defends the controversial Barton

Joey Barton protests his innocence at the Emirates.

LONDON // The Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan launched a stern defence of Joey Barton after the controversial midfielder endured a hot reception on his return to action in the 3-0 defeat at Arsenal. Barton - who was recently released early from a jail sentence following a conviction for assault and affray - will face Football Association disciplinary chiefs this week after admitting a charge of violent conduct against former teammate Ousmane Dabo, and although he had not been expected to feature for the first team, he was drafted into the squad.

Keegan sent the ex-Manchester City man on for the closing minutes of the clash with Arsenal - and he was immediately in the thick of the action, with a strong challenge on the Gunners winger Samir Nasri. The France international then appeared to trip Barton off the ball, and was cautioned. Keegan had words with Nasri and also the Arsenal captain William Gallas at the final whistle. "Joey came on, got a good tackle in on Nasri. Then the guy sliced him down. That's what happened and that's what I saw, which is what I was upset about," said the Newcastle manager.

"I like Nasri very much - he's a player we looked at for a possible signing but you can't do that. If it had been the other way round, I wonder what the reaction would be. "I know the referee didn't see it but the linesman did and it should have been a red card. "I will tell Arsene Wenger the same thing when I see him. It wasn't a reckless tackle - it was a good tackle. We want to see the good players play, but we want to see good tackles as well.

"Joey has done nothing wrong. I'm concerned about my team, not individual players." Keegan, though, accepted Arsenal's class shone through in the end, with a double from Robin van Persie and the Brazil youngster Denilson. "We came up against a side who had to bounce back from a poor result," he said. "We needed a break, which we did not get, like when Nicky Butt hit the bar." England coach Fabio Capello was present to watch the fit-again Newcastle striker Michael Owen - who has been offered an improved three-year extension to his current contract at Newcastle.

Keegan said: "That was Michael's first game back to start, but I never liked people telling me who I should pick for England. I am definitely happy for him to go if he gets called up." Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, meanwhile, hailed his team's "complete" performance as they continued from the midweek Champions League qualifying 4-0 demolition of FC Twente, "I am very pleased with the performance, both offensively and defensively. It was a complete one, there was great balance in the team, with movement. We played the game we love, and showed the way we can play," he said.

Dutchman Van Persie - who endured an injury-plagued campaign last season - had to come off in the second half with an ankle problem which is not thought to be serious. "He has to have an X-ray on his ankle. Hopefully nothing is broken," said Wenger. "He is the link between the midfield and the strikers, which is very important in the game we want to play. On the incident involving Barton and Nasri, Wenger diplomatically noted: "I was not surprised by the reaction of the fans - I have been involved in the game long enough not to be surprised by anything.

"Nasri clipped Barton and there was a little incident between them, but he was booked and rightly so." * PA Sport