It’s going to be a toughie, but a positive result would keep us up there chasing 4th place for another week although I personally feel that it is beyond us and that we’d do better to concentrate on consolidating our current 6th place standing.
As has been discussed, Arsenal have hit a hot streak and are scoring goals while Newcastle are struggling in terms of picking up wins. It will be a home banker in the eyes of many, but it was last season also and we won so you just never know.
For more back ground and information on the match such as team news, previous form and analytical stats regarding the match take a peek at my match preview by here or NUFC stats’ fantastic ‘Stat Attack’ by clicking here.
Now it’s time for the players to do the talking. Team news is below and will be updated accordingly so now all you have to do is sit back, try and relax, and watch in while Newcastle set about getting some points at a ground which, over the years, has hardly been favourable to us.
Howay the lads!
Arsenal: Wojciech Szczesny, Bacary Sagna, Laurent Koscielny, Thomas Vermaelen, Kieran Gibbs, Alex Song, Mikel Arteta, Tomas Rosicky, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Robin Persie.
Subs: Lukas Fabianski, Johan Djourou, Andre Santos, Aaron Ramsey, Yossi Benayoun, Gervinho, Marouane Chamakh.
Newcastle: Tim Krul, Danny Simpson, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini, Davide Santon, Gabriel Obertan, Yohan Cabaye, Cheik Tiote, Jonas Gutierrez, Hatem Ben Arfa, Demba Ba
Subs: Rob Elliot, James Perch, Danny Guthrie, Dan Gosling, Haris Vuckic, Shola Ameobi, Papiss Cisse
Obertan looks more comfortable in the middle.
He looks more active, more skilled and threatening than on the wing.
funkyjesus(Quote)
We need to mark RVP out the game or clatter him . Their pace is killing us at present.
kimtoon(Quote)
less hoofs please Timmy
M(Quote)
Santon needs to wake up too…
JJ(Quote)
Willo is just gash….the cross couldn’t go anywhere else than in the direction of Van Persie and Willo was way off him…. 😥
Can we have a ball too please ?
Munich Mag(Quote)
Add Cabaye to that list his passing has been posse poor.
JJ(Quote)
Colo’s long-range passing is poor
M(Quote)
After a bright start we’ve been really poor. Our passing has been way off.
Stuart79(Quote)
There is just no movement!
Stuart79(Quote)
Who’s the SS1 commentator…so far up arsenals arsenal
witters(Quote)
even if we go on to get spanked…. this is the most football we’ve played in ages
M(Quote)
Santon is sooooooo dodgy
M(Quote)
Don’t rry…Arsenal did something similar in mid week to AC Milan….
We have been gash possesion wise all season against lesser teams than Arsenal, why should tonight be any different…we’re chasing shadows….
Munich Mag(Quote)
Witters@85…I was thinking the same meself mate…. 👿
Munich Mag(Quote)
**** sake obertan, run at them you puff.
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
Ba is isolated and we’re too deep here. We need to push up and give Ba support.
Stuart79(Quote)
WITTERS- Matt le tissier is one
kimtoon(Quote)
obertcrap get him off
asim(Quote)
**** me that was a forwards challenge 😆
kimtoon(Quote)
Are we really calling players puffs and cunts on here?
Pathetic.
funkyjesus(Quote)
Simmo having a very good half…
JJ(Quote)
two dutchmen fallin out ,who’d of thought 😉
kimtoon(Quote)
Asim
Obertan has probably been our most influential player this half you idiot.
JJ(Quote)
Barfa seems to be working harder.
Stuart79(Quote)
Oba and HBA both o.k i reckon
kimtoon(Quote)
Cabaye seems to be letting this game pass him bye 👿
Big Dave(Quote)
obertan done well but so lacking in confidence…if he is to play that role through the middle then he needs to drive through the middle when he gets the ball not head out to the wing at every opportunity!! williamson is quite poor and seems to be proving it week in week out!! jonas workin hard but hes so ineffectual going forward!! Barfa lookin quite good in fairness to him!! Cabaye having another very quiet game…in fairness to Troy, he seems bang on the money when he claims that cabaye lies far too deep and offers little going forward
buddy(Quote)
well said JJ – with Cabaye so deep, Obertan is key. He’s good at finding space and linking play. Gives Tiote/Cabaye/Colo a passing option coming out of defence. This was a feature of his early-season form too
M(Quote)
Kim…it’s the non ex professional but good shout!
Anyway…not bad considering we’re away to arsenal
witters(Quote)
am i missing something with regards santon?? everyone seems to be saying he looks shaky??
buddy(Quote)
try watching him Buddy
M(Quote)
Buddy, agree with that analysis.
JJ(Quote)
Asim…obertan set up the goal! Are you watching through idiot eyes?
witters(Quote)
cabaye is having a bit of a stinker like, Tiote seems a little off his usual too.
rinton man(Quote)
so what he has been ****..he will be off…
asim(Quote)
well yes just looking at those highlights its easy to see that santon is strugglin
buddy(Quote)
Asim…you’re ****, are you off?
witters(Quote)
Perch lb 😕
Dubtoon(Quote)
oh christ perch on for santon!! good god there will be trouble down that wing
buddy(Quote)
Walcott gunna eat perch here lads.
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
Perch?
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
oberton **** up..whats new
asim(Quote)
that was a really **** pass from Obertan – should’ve set up a shot for either Benny or Ba
M(Quote)
Well, he did okay there, but… Perch?
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
what a terrible terrible ball by obertan…how on earth can a pro ruin a such great attacking position so badly
buddy(Quote)
Are we really expecting Perch to be better than Santon?
Also Obertan justvsummed up in that one move.
Stuart79(Quote)
Well Santon has been poor but I’d have preferred Fergie on because now our attack down the left is going to be non exsistant.
JJ(Quote)
I try to defend obertan, but he ***** him self when he gets anywhere near their goal.
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
Wasn’t the best pass but good to see so many supporting our own players 🙄
witters(Quote)
NICE ONE TIM
kimtoon(Quote)
Colo with a right rampaging run… that goes nowhere. Shame…
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
What a **** pass from Collicini 🙄
witters(Quote)
**** defence
witters(Quote)
Poor midfield tracking
witters(Quote)
Another well timed jump from Willo…
Stuart79(Quote)
Get perch off he’s ****
witters(Quote)
Poor kick from Krul
witters(Quote)
Poor from tiote shouldn’t have let himself get fouled
witters(Quote)
TIMMEH!
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
Lucky save by krul
witters(Quote)
Good save Krul
Big Dave(Quote)
ominous pattern of play developing here
M(Quote)
Thank you, Theo.
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
Williamson does know RVP is playing doesn’t he?
Stuart79(Quote)
Wiiliamson not even close to van Persie there. Total miss match…
JJ(Quote)
Im even boring myself now…
witters(Quote)
Everytime Tim kicks the ball long they win it and it comes straight back at us. Can we not just pass the ball on the ground please. 🙄
kimtoon(Quote)
Some might say only a matter of time?
Stuart79(Quote)
What the eff is with Cabaye tonight?
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
Cabaye 😕
Big Dave(Quote)
Is it me, or is Tiote actually playing above Cabaye?
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
Get willo off and put shola centre half
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
The commentator just said we’re still in it…he’s trying to curse it the ****
witters(Quote)
Fck it! Get Obertan off and Ba on. Let’s go for it.
Stuart79(Quote)
Spencer
Obertan has had two or three bad crosses as a final ball. Other than that his movement and link up play has been very good.
EVERY single attacking move has come through him, including the goal.
And he tracks back and presses the Arsenal midfield.
What he needs is Jonas or Cabaye to get up field and offer him a pass.
His only option is Ba who is double marked.
JJ(Quote)