KK slams Nasri for challenge

Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan felt Samir Nasri should have been sent off for a challenge on Joey Barton in the 3-0 defeat at Arsenal.

France international Nasri appeared to take revenge for Barton's strong-but-fair tackle after he was introduced on 89 minutes for his first appearance since being released from prison.

And Keegan, who has confirmed Nasri was a Magpies target at one point before he joined the Gunners, felt a dismissal would have been on the cards if Barton had been the aggressor.

"I saw Nasri slice down Joey and that's what I was so upset about," Keegan told the News of the World.

"If it had been the other way round I'm sure Joey would have been sent off. Joey came on and got a very good tackle in on Nasri. Then he tripped Joey when he was running back."

The Toon chief added: "I like Nasri and we talked about bringing him to Newcastle, but he can't do that.

"The referee didn't see it but the linesman did. Under the rules it's a red card. I spoke to Nasri at the end and told him I thought it was wrong ? he is too good a player to do that.

"He said something back to me but French is one of the many languages I don't speak."