Ben Arfa screamer earns Newcastle draw vs. Villa

(AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

NEWCASTLE, England (AP) Hatem Ben Arfa smashed in a stunning second-half equalizer to earn Newcastle a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday.

The France playmaker cut inside off his favored left foot and arrowed a rising shot into the far corner from 20 yards in the 59th minute, denying Villa a first win of the season.

Having come into the game as one of two teams in the league without a point, Villa at least got off the mark this campaign, with defender Ciaran Clark putting the visitors in the lead with a close-range header in the 22nd from Barry Bannan's left-wing cross.

The result lifted Villa out of the bottom three after three matches, while Newcastle is 10th on four points.

Updated September 2, 2012