Newcastle 1 Aston Villa 1
Ciaran Clarks shock opener fired Aston Villa in front on 23 minutes at St James Park.
But the Magpies rallied after the break and France star Ben Arfa levelled with a 25-yard stunner.
Both sides had chances to win the match, with Stephen Ireland fluffing Villa's best effort 10 minutes from time.
And Toon striker Papiss Cisse's drought was stretched to six games after another poor display in front of goal.
Villa boss Paul Lambert will be the happier of the two managers as his side picked up their first point of the season.
Lamberts men were up for the fight from kick-off and quickly knocked the hosts out of their stride.
It was a strangely disjointed performance from Newcastle, who continue to miss Cheick Tiotes influence in the middle of the park.
The service from wide-men Ben Arfa and Jonas Gutierrez was decidedly sub-standard, while Cisse and Demba Ba rarely looked like threatening Brad Guzan in the Villa goal.
Sunderland old boy Darren Bent served warning of Villas intent with 19 minutes gone when he forced Tim Krul into action.
Fabricio Coloccini blocked Andreas Weimanns follow-up and Krul denied Bent again seconds later.
Clark opened the scoring before Steven Taylor bundled a Cabaye free-kick over the bar as the Magpies attempted to respond.
With 29 minutes palyed, Ben Arfas right-wing corner was overhit, but Ba managed to pluck it out of the air and drill the ball back across goal, where Cisses shot was kept out by Guzan's foot.
Midfielder Vurnon Anita fired into the side-netting after Gutierrez had recycled the resulting corner before finding himself pressed into a makeshift defensive line-up when Danny Simpson went down injured.
Ba fired across goal seconds later as the Magpies finished the half strongly, without troubling Guzan to any great extent.
Villa returned not only determined to hang on to their advantage, but to extend it after the restart.
As the home fans grew increasingly restless, Newcastle responded and Ben Arfa might have done better when he headed Anitas 52-minute cross straight at Guzan.
Toon boss Alan Pardew had switched to a 4-3-3 formation before half-time in an attempt to get Ben Arfa further forward and it finally paid off with 59 minutes gone.
The Frenchman picked up possession on the left and cut inside before unleashing a drive which flew high past Guzan into the top corner.
In the meantime, Krul plucked Irelands well-struck shot out of the air and then had to get down well to deny Weimann with Villa still very much in the game.
Ben Arfa had a chance to fire the Magpies ahead with 23 minutes remaining, but curled his free-kick harmlessly over the bar.
Ba then went close with a looping header from substitute Gael Bigirimanas 74th-minute cross and Ireland passed up a glorious opportunity to win it, screwing wide from 16 yards.
Bent was handed a similarly promising opening with six minutes left, but Bigirimanas timely intervention kept him at bay before Guzan palmed out Yohan Cabayes last-ditch attempt.
Newcastle: Krul, Simpson (Bigirimana 38), Coloccini, Steven Taylor, Santon, Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Anita, Gutierrez (Marveaux 86), Ba (Obertan 87), Cisse. Subs not used: Harper, Williamson, Gosling, Amalfitano. Booked: Gutierrez.
Goals: Ben Arfa 59.
Aston Villa: Guzan, Lowton, Vlaar, Clark, Lichaj, Bannan, El Ahmadi (NZogbia 72), Ireland, Weimann (Agbonlahor 64),Holman, Bent. Subs not used: Given, Bowery, Baker, Burke, Williams. Booked: El Ahmadi, Guzan, Lichaj, Holman.
Goals: Clark 22.
Att: 48,245
Ref: Lee Probert (Wiltshire)
