Game On! Newcastle v Arsenal

Game On at St James' Park
Game On at St James’ Park
Well the end of a horrible season is just about upon us, although time has not been called on our campaign just yet.

This time last season we still had an outside chance of qualifying for the Champions League although in the end we had to settle for just the 5th place in the table and Europa League football instead.

What a difference a year makes though and this time round we find ourselves only recently ruled out of the relegation dogfight by virtue of a win at QPR last weekend. In fact in terms of real prizes there isn’t a lot left to play for other than more prize money, unless you are our opponents today who still have to ensure that they can pip their North London rivals to that final Champions League place and the riches that come with it.

Amazingly United could add a thin layer of veneer to the season potentially find themselves in the top half of the table come end of play this afternoon but it’s a tall order asking for all results to go our way. The best thing we can do is try to go out with a bang rather than a fizz though and see where a result takes us in the grand scheme of things.

Standing in the way of us doing that are Arsenal who know that they must beat us to guarantee 4th place in the table. If they do then it won’t matter what result Spurs get against Sunderland leaving players like Gareth Bale with tough decisions to make over the summer.

That sort of gives you a bit more of a background about what is at stake for everyone today. For us there isn’t a lot other than a few quid in the bank whilst for teams like Arsenal the game today means everything. However if you fancy reading a bit more of a background on the fixture along with injury news, stats and facts and so on then why not have a peek at my match preview which is viewable here.

I’ll be on my way to Paris when the teams are announced so once again team news will be provided by Big Dave, who by the way I’d like to thank for helping out with things whilst I’ve been away working or babysitting or other stuff like that. It’s very much appreciated by me and others I’m sure.

The game itself is going to be shown live here in the UK on Sky Sports 1 which is all fine and dandy if you have it, if you’re in a pub that has it, or even if you are in the ultimate place which is St James’ Park. However not everyone has access to the ground or Sky or a pub so streams are still needed. For one final time this season, please leave any links to streams in the ‘comments’ section below.

That just about wraps this up really and now it’s up to the players and management to attempt to restore some pride after a season which has seen a lot of goodwill from last season wiped out. Only they can do it, we can only watch.

Howay the lads!

Newcastle: Harper; Debuchy, S.Taylor, Coloccini (c), Yanga-Mbiwa; Tiote, Cabaye, Gutierrez; Ben Arfa, Cisse, Gouffran.

Subs: Alnwick, Simpson, Anita, Perch, Marveaux, Obertan, Campbell

Arsenal: Szczesney; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Arteta, Ramsey; Rosicky, Cazorla, Walcott; Podolski.

Subs: Fabianski, Vermaelen, Monreal, Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gervinho, Giroud

About toonsy

A lifelong Newcastle fan and current webmaster of this very 'blog who has the sole aim of creating a place by Newcastle United fans, for Newcastle United fans.

429 thoughts on “Game On! Newcastle v Arsenal

  1. Troy and Dave ,out of interest how many games would you give Pards to get us right?

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  2. Wellington – nice one buddy ;-). Probably asking about Douglas (Twente) and Kjaer (Wolfsburg). I’d hope they also discussed Tolga Cigerci from Wolfsurg as well.

    Dave – it’s getting bloody stupid now buddy 🙄 😆

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  3. Bottom line.

    If Fatboy doesn’t dish out that million, after the media bumrush, he’s a major ****.

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  4. ime not happy people picking on my mate BATTY he’s toon through and through,if you cannot handle that don’t turn to insults you will lose

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  5. Kim, I would give him 6-10 games but I still don’t know if Jabba would do the right thing

    Mark @ 374 what make you think that ? I know there was talk about Strolla getting an extension but as for Willo I haven’t heard owt, is his contract up

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  6. Ice if you look up you will see he started with insults @178

    Then he crys about getting a little back..

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  7. Big Dave,
    For the last time, any manager at this juncture would be an improvement on the “FOOL.
    I want Pardew out, simple as that because he aint good enough. Deal wth it!

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  8. its a toss up who are the biggest dicks on here santi or michelle 12 ,ile just wait to see what michelle has to say ?<<<< if you cant see that as a wind up you a wind up you are a little willy ,you class **** as a insult 😆 you answer what you want you you little boy

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  9. Ice if you look up you will see he started with insults @178<<<< kid in a play ground tell him sir he started it ;lol:

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  10. Bloody hell that booking Bale got for ‘diving’ was soooooooooooo wrong ,stone wall pen ,then a Scum handball should of been a second one. Got to be said officiating has been total ***** this season.

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  11. Chill pill batty what have i told you about your blood pressure. You need to stop getting so angry at the internet and the kid in a play ground that is winding you up so much 😳

    Remember the breathing exercises buddy. Listen to some Jack Johnson he will chill anybody out.

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  12. @Big Dave

    Nufc.com, nothing confirmed like

    Mike Williamson and Shola Ameobi by contrast were the last to take their leave after posing for photos with their offspring – whether they will prove to be farewell souvenirs remains to be seen.

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  13. Aye Kim i thought that as well but he has been a diving wee **** so the referees must consider his reputation for diving as well. His goal was amazing though.

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  14. ive always enjoyed nufc.com’s comments

    Glad it’s all over

    Newcastle 0 Arsenal 1

    Free from the threat of relegation, Newcastle boss Alan Pardew pledged that his side would put on a show in this final game of the season in front of a sold-out SJP.

    However United failed to score for the third successive home game and seldom looked like doing so, as the visitors collected the three points to ensure Champions League qualification at expense of their rivals Spurs.

    And Pardew was indebted to the departing Steve Harper for ensuring that roughly half of the crowd remained in their places to give the long-serving ‘keeper a fitting send-off, sparing some support for his colleagues.

    Harper made a couple of useful stops during the afternoon and looked visibly moved when the 37th minute of the game came around and the whole of SJP took his squad number as their cue to applaud him.

    The first half saw United open brightly and Papiss Cisse fire narrowly over, but Arsene Wenger’s half time team talk soon had the desired effect, Laurent Koscielny flicking the ball home from close range after Lukas Podolski headed on Theo Walcott’s right wing free kick.

    That hapless whistler Howard Webb allowed Walcott to move the set piece away from the rut in the pitch that was caused in the tackle that was penalised added further insult to injury, on a day when the visitors were habitually indulged as they frequently went to ground.

    That scrappy goal with a good shout for an offside was enough to ensure defeat once again for United, as they failed to carve out a chance worthy of the name in their half-hearted pursuit of an equaliser. And had the ball somehow ended up in the Arsenal net, they’d doubtless have raised their game a fraction to regain the lead.

    To see a trio of players saunter off when substitutions were made underlined the fact that the result of this game was of no consequence to the black and whites whatsoever – while many of the shortcomings evident during this season were once again to the fore.

    Take your pick: be it our laughable attempts at taking corners, recurring indiscipline when coming under attack and flocking to the ball rather than marking targets, or the aching slowness of our attacking attempts.

    Mediocre, listless and unconvincing, yet again. If the manager truly believes that only minor tweaks are required to fashion this side into something worth watching, then he’s in need of urgent psychiatric help.

    Following the full time whistle and Arsenal’s celebrations, Harper and his bairns led the side back out, with Pardew and his staff joining the throng before retreating to what was no more than sparse applause.

    The players (minus Harper) then made a circuit of the pitch, with Fabricio Coloccini acknowledging the cheers of the Gallowgate End but noticeably blending in with his colleagues – hardly the actions of someone leaving.

    Mike Williamson and Shola Ameobi by contrast were the last to take their leave after posing for photos with their offspring – whether they will prove to be farewell souvenirs remains to be seen.

    Salvation may lie in the fact that the fourteen Europa League games played this season won’t be a burden in 2013/14, but the domestic cup success of both Swansea and Wigan this season means that a full-blooded assault on both competitions is a pre-requisite.

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  15. how good is Bale at clipping the ball like that. imagine having him and Ronaldo on your wings. it would be like the Gillespie and Ginola days 🙂

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  16. santi iam most probs fitter than you ,you stick to you viagra peewee ,are you answering the bullying questions ? shows you up for what you are ,bet you used to post on eds blog little boy

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  17. TGS @ 385 “For the last time” sorry I didn’t realise you answered me. I have no problem dealing with it, but I think Jabba will keep Pards so you and others will have to deal it

    Batty @ 386 don’t waste your time

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  18. Witless insults Batty you can you do no better than “Duuhh You take viagra duuuhh..

    Now Please stop your embarrassing yourself here are you not supposed to be the adult and me the little pewee.

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  19. Kim – this blog is 85% speculation. I am just going with the flow. 😉

    Besides, that wasn’t a dig. The only bad things that could come out of Zeman managing our team are ZZ Top gags.

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  20. Baggies game was mental . Fergies face a picture when they scored 3 goals in quick succession to come back from 2.5 down !! .

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  21. Wellie@403 ,I know you wasn’t ,I was just being topical as everyone is going on about second guessing ;). By the way ZZtop ,lol ,love it.

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  22. Bottom line.

    If Fatboy doesn’t dish out that million anyway, after the media bumrush, he’s a major ****.

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  23. Kim-shocking isn’t it. They made it look like Arsenal dicked us as well. I thought it was pretty even with both sides struggling to make chances, but that penalty shout was definitely worth a second look

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  24. newkie ,it will always be that way when we play any of the big boys. Fact is we been **** all season and they rightly been dissing us for it so can’t be made to look like mugs when we actually show we CAN do it right albeit for one half only 😉

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  25. kim think i will watch the game tomoz to see if they show the peno decisions ,after i collect my pention like 😉

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  26. Spurs 72 points this year is their highest PL ever 😯
    Pardew managed 65 in his first full year in charge, even with Simpson, Williamson and Ryan Taylor in defence, and Jonas in midfield. Sign this Pardew fella up to a 10 year deal!

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  27. Batty, divnt forget the meths like 😯

    special discoont for pensioners in Poondlaand doon Shields, 😉

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  28. one or two new players 🙄

    “It was certainly a more composed performance from us, we showed that we have got class in the side and that it wasn’t going to be easy for Arsenal,”

    “First half we had a great period, and we really needed to score in that period and didn’t quite find the goal, and when Arsenal had their best period of the game they scored, that’s the margins we talk about in the Premier League.”

    “It’s obvious that the Europa League campaign, which we did brilliantly in, really hurt us in terms of energy, and it’s the depth in quality that we need to improve on. Next year we haven’t got that pressure and we can go week to week in this Premier League.”

    “We’re not going to be foolish enough to think that we don’t have a couple of issues to sort out in the team, not major issues, but certainly one or two players to add to offer us a different look.

    “We’re very, very lucky to have the support that we got and therefore we owe them a debt next year to make sure that we serve up a better standard of football and better quality of results.”

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  29. not sure I can bear another season of that silver-headed ****-warbler like.

    The fucking horse.

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  30. Compared to the absolute pish we have turned out so far this season, today was a good performance, and Arsenal’s extra class paid in the end. A real pity that we have no-one in the team who can head a ball, as that would surely help us at BOTH ends of the field.
    A free defensive header missed by dying swan Staylor cost us the game, unlucky toon.

    Thank goodness this season is over.

    We have what it takes to push for a 8 – 12 place finish, let’s see what Pardew manages to arrange in the close season transfer market.

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  31. The Pardew “should he go?” Debate draws out the same passions as we used to have with ” Ashley get out of our club” debate.

    The reality train managed to persuade Ashley to improve his policies over time but we are still working on certain aspects, by getting him to show more ambition.

    Whilst Ashley stutters on the ambition side, we are working on Pardew to make him sit down this summer and take on board the criticism and look to learn from his mistakes.

    I know Ashley & Pards are avid readers of the blog and the reality train looks to influence both this summer.

    We can only stoke the fire and give it our best shot! Toot toot! 😛

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