Article: Arsenal v Newcastle United: Match Thread | Newcastle United, Football

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Arsenal v Newcastle United

Saturday 29th December

Kick Off 5.30pm @ The Emirates
​

Squad
Ryan Taylor, Dan Gosling, Haris Vuckic, Yohan Cabaye, Steven Taylor and Hatem Ben Arfa are once again sidelined with news awaited of the status of Anita's injury.
The good news is that Tiote is back from his latest suspension.
Further info to follow in due course.

Streams
http://www.viplivesports.eu/
http://www.thefirstrow.eu/

Betting
Cisse & 2-1 - 125/1
Cisse & 2-2 - 100/1
Draw 1-1 - 13/2

ACS's View
After Old Trafford anything could happen so I'm saying bollocks to the form.... we will win and Cisse will once again have his shooting boots on.


Here's a poll to see what you chaps think.......

 

If we had the same team with Tiote then I'd go for a draw, but no aerial CB and no Anita = Loss for me.

I have a feeling we could put in a performance and lose again :S

2-1 Arsenal.

 

2-2 for me, Ba and Cisse to score in their last game together. 2 set pieces for le arse to ruin the day.

 

3-3 Neither is great at defending.

 

Going for a 1-0 win. Would be nice to finish 2012 with a win.

 

Oh ye of little faith. 2-1 win for us.

 

3-0 defeat.

 

Sorry guys for me it's 4-1 defeat. We'll be hammered for pace thru' the centre of our defence.

 

Its the unfair rest they've had which worries me. They will start like a train. We'll probably start sluggish and end on empty. I just hope in the middle bit we can expose their obvious defensive frailties.

 

How the hell will they get through the centre of our defence no matter what kind of pace they've got?

 

I'm saying comfortable 2-0 to Arsenal. Don't think they have a good midfield or defence, while their goalie is horrendous, but the extra rest and home advantage will be enough to beat our tired legs.

 

A similar game to the sickening loss of last season where they scored in the last minute.

As many have said, the effort we put in on Boxing day will show. Having said that, Marv and Obertan should be up for this and Marv will surely start again, whether or not Jonas is available. Maybe he hasn't been showing it in training, but everyone I know has been shouting for Marv to start ahead of the out of form Jonas, and the only reason it happened is because Jonas is injured - and surprise surprise...he does a better job!

Sometimes I think Pardew is blind.

 

We have been hopeless to balls played over the top of our defenders and with players like Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain they'll murder us for pace

 

Re-the 4-4 game, then!

I think you have a point to some degree, but I would highlight the 0-0 last season at home, and the corresponding fixture as well, as evidence Pardew has employed smarter strategy since then. We've defended deeper, made it hard to get in behind, and kept tighter lines. All these rules need to be observed. Arsenal are the same to beat as they always have been, counter-attack intelligently, provide a threat from set-plays, and defend in good lines in the right areas to limit chances. It's going to be a very tough game if we're defending too high and letting runners in behind, and if we don't have any energy in the first half, it will be all over. Lots of running, lots of hard work, a better performance by the keeper, and a high chance conversion rate and we could win the game.

I personally think the game will pan out thus... We'll defend deep ala Man Utd performance, have Bigi and Tiote do the same job of zonally cutting out angles and passes. Arsenal will get chances, and have some long shots. I think we'll keep them out for 30 minutes and frustrate them, then there will be a lapse, Arsenal will get a couple of passes going into the box, someone loses their marker and goal. Second half, we'll basically do the same, still looking to counter, but looking unlikely scorers. Arsenal will keep possession pretty well high up the pitch, looking to cut into the wings where there's more space and Santon and Simpson are vulnerable. We'll get one chance from the counter after a heavy Arsenal attack, but the keeper will save and we'll get a corner... No goal, they launch an attack straight from this and win their own set-piece and score. 20 mins left, they've won and pretty much settle at that, we're too tired to counter much.

If that happens I want 1,000,000 rep.

 

That comment was a bit tongue in cheek.

 

Given our injuries, and the fact Arsenal missed the Boxing day fixtures, I'd be happy with a draw.

 

I think most of us would be happy with a draw after the effort the guys put in against Fergie's XI.

 

Up the North East

 

Not going to the Arsenal game myself, thought I'd be chained to the dinner table to spend the day with the family.

I will be going to the Brighton game though and my ticket came in the post today.

 

Selected PP Match odds:
Newcastle to win @ 13/2
Papiss Cisse first goalscorer @ 10/1
Demba Ba to score in a 1-0 win @ 100/1

Worth a daft pound or two.