Newcastle United manager Kevin Keegan has slammed Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri for his retaliatory tackle on Joey Barton in Saturday’s Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium.

Barton made his first Magpies appearance since being released from prison earlier in the summer. With the midfielder coming on as a late substitute and giving French International Nasri a crunching tackle straight away.

However, it was the tackle in retaliation moments later by Nasri on Barton that infuriated Keegan, with the former Marsille player scything down Barton off the ball. Something that referee Rob Styles booked Nasri for, but Keegan felt the challenge was a straight red card offence.

Keegan let his feeling known at the end of the 3-0 defeat, and got involved in a heated confrontation with Nasri and Gunners captain William Gallas at the final whistle.

“I wasn't happy with it,” Keegan said.

“Joey came on, got a good tackle in on Nasri and then the guy sliced him down.

“That's what happened and that's what I was upset about.

“I like Nasri very much - he's a player we looked at for a possible signing last year - but you can't do things like that. If it had been the other way round, and a Newcastle player had done that, 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 and I told Nasri that at the end as well. The fact is that Joey has done nothing wrong.”