Cup History:
Arsenal’s last two F.A Cup ties against Newcastle both came in league and F.A Cup winning double years. The first was the 1998 final when Overmars and Anelka scored the goals in a 2-0 win to lead Arsenal to their first F.A Cup win under Wenger. Arsenal’s line up for that day was Seaman, Dixon, Winterburn, Keown, Adams, Vieira, Petit, Anelka , Overmars ,Wreh (Platt sub on @ 62 min), Parlour.
The second was in 2002 when Arsenal needed two games to dispatch Newcastle. In the first game away to St. James’ Park, Edu scored a goal in the 14th minute to give Arsenal an early lead. But after that, it was all Newcastle and Arsenal were lucky to escape with a 1-1 tie (Robert tied things up in the 52 minute). But it was a completely different game at Highbury when Arsenal raced into a 2-0 lead by the 10th minute thanks to Pires and Bergkamp. Sol Campbell added a third in the 50th minute to complete a comprehensive win. The one worrying aspect from that tie was the injury to Pires which kept him out for the rest of the season. Arsenal’s line up for that 3-0 home win was Wright, Luzhny, Adams, Campbell, Ashley Cole, Ljungberg, Pires (Grimandi,27 ), Vieira, Edu (Jeffers sub on 69 min), Wiltord (Dixon ,77 ) ,Bergkamp
Overall, in the F.A Cup Arsenal have won three times, Newcastle has won 4 games with two draws needing replays (the 1-1 game above and a 3-3 tie in the 1935/36 season). The first F.A Cup meeting between the two was on Jan 25, 1902 when Newcastle won 2-0 away.
Current season: matter of timing
Arsenal’s first meeting with Newcastle this season came in a week when their manager Sam Allardyce was rumoured to be in trouble. Reports suggested that if Arsenal won their game, then Big Sam was out. And after Adebayor gave Arsenal an early lead, things looked grim for Big Sam. But Newcastle put on a fight in the second half and held Arsenal to a 1-1 draw. That game was only a stay of execution for Big Sam. He was eventually sacked a few days before his Newcastle team played Man Utd. And Newcastle put up no fight whatsoever in getting destroyed 6-0, allwoing Manchester to increase their goal difference over Arsenal.
But there is a happier mood at Newcastle nowadays thanks to the return of Kevin Keegan. Although, Keegan has inherited the same leaky defense and paper thin midfield that Big Sam had. The question is how much of his charisma and positive attitude can lift the Toon players into putting up a fight?
On the other hand, Arsenal need a big win and a positive display to erase the pain of Jan 22.
63 Responses to “Arsenal vs Newcastle, F.A Cup”
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January 26th, 2008 at 8:47 am
its going to be tough game but i reckon we’ll beat them 3-1
team should look like this:
Almunia
Sagna Gallas Senderos Clichy
Hleb Fabregas Flamini Rosicky
Eduardo Adebayor
subs: lehmann,hoyte,gilberto,diaby,bendtner
January 26th, 2008 at 8:50 am
This game will go a long way to tell us how much the 5-1 mauling did to the team. Hopefully the team is able to get over it. Last season, we went out of all cup tournaments within a span of a few weeks after losing in the first one. So I hope Wenger starts the strongest team possible even though we host Newcastle again in midweek,. If we do not win this cup game, it might have a domino effect on our EPL and CL games. Though Keegan is now in charge of Newcastle, they still do have “in-your-face” hackers like Smith and Butt. Arsenal will need to play a high tempo game if we want to win this one.
Pls Wenger, do not start Gilberto. In the majority of the games he has started this season, we have played badly in all those games and either lost or drew.
January 26th, 2008 at 8:51 am
Theo will start today. I can see it happening. That apart that’ll be the team.
January 26th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Lehmann should be in goal today and I think Sagna+Hleb will be rested. That leaves very little choice. We need a win and a good one. 2-0 is my prediction.
January 26th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Lehmann
Clichy Gallas Senderos Hoyte
Rosicky Flamini Cesc Diaby
Ade Theo
Subs: Fabianski, Dudu, Gilberto, Hleb, Bendtner
Decent enough I guess for the 2-0 prediction.
January 26th, 2008 at 11:12 am
Rosicky has been substituted due to injury at 9 minutes. Does anyone have a sense of severity of injury?
January 26th, 2008 at 11:32 am
I think he has a yeast infection
January 26th, 2008 at 11:38 am
The F.A Cup aura hits anfield as Liverpool have been stunned twice. And this was the year that the Liverpool side was supposed to challenge for the title. Not sure what is going on there.
January 26th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Liverpool are now losing 2-1 to Havant & Waterlooville!
January 26th, 2008 at 11:50 am
0-0 at half time.
Diaby has been as poor as Josh describes him. Walcott is back on the wing and his usual poor self. Rosicky is injured yet again. Not much use being good if you can’t remain on the pitch for 3 games in a row. Hoyte being troubled by Duff. Rest of the team including Cesc below par. Clichy has been our most attacking player.
Need improvement.
January 26th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Still, it took a strong save from Given to keep Diaby (ugly boots, too) out of goal there near the end. Flamini’s had a generally good half. Clichy’s just continuing to blaze. When will he score, already?
Otherwise, a stronger effort from Newcastle and just flashes from the Gunners. Frustrating.
January 26th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Final ball is crap every time. Still expect us to win when Newcastle start to tire.
January 26th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
We are not dominating, we are not passing as well as we should be, a few too many long balls forward. Newcastle has had the better chances and more of them. Chip by Taylor had Lehmann beat but it landed on top of the net. Clichy had a clear off the line. Our only decent attempt was in injury time with Diaby from 20yds and Given tipping over the bar.
Clichy our most lively player. Adebayor is trying. Walcott is lost in the wilderness. Duff ain’t jack sh*t but Hoyte’s jack rabbit syle of defense causes him to beat himself rather than the man beating him. Darren Anderton, uhmm Rosicky was off at 9 min with what look to be a (L) leg problem. Eduardo on in his place. Senderos and Gallas are looking decent so far. 2nd half now starting.
January 26th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Diarra scores for Portsmouth.
January 26th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Whew. Finally. Funny thing, Ade could have given Eduardo the same square he looked for in the first half, but….brilliant.
January 26th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Adebayor! off a rebound off the post.
January 26th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
My mistake. That was Fab, not Eduardo
January 26th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Ade scores and has another chance to make it two. Ade’s goal is apparently the 100th scored at the Emirates for Arsenal.
January 26th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Arsenal finally picking up the intensity.
January 26th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Adebayor just ran 80 yds to close down Duff in th box.
January 26th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Cacapa makes a saving block on our best attacking move: Clichy cross and a Fabregas one touch into Eduardo for the turn and volley.
January 26th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Oh lord, Gilberto coming in for Diaby. What did we do to deserve this.
Hleb in for Walcott. 77min
January 26th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Hleb out left. Eduardo right and Gilberto somewhere in the middle with Flamini.
January 26th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Holy crap, what a run by Ade.
January 26th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
When is the 5th round draw?
January 26th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Adebayor makes a magnificent to score his second and avoids making an offside pass in the process. Newcastle just gave up chasing Adebayor and cacap had to conceed the run because he is on a yellow.
Arsenal now toying with Newcastle.
January 26th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Eduardo scores a business like header for the 3rd. No celebration needed.
January 26th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Adebayor saved by Given in the box as he looks for his 3rd.
January 26th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
holy crap… did he even mean to pass like that? that was just beautiful…
January 26th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Pundits and critics: Arsenal have given their reponse. Now shut the f**k up.
January 26th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Ade was the difference today. Clichy worked very hard. Eduardo, Flamini, Gallas and Senderos did fine. Diaby, Walcott and Cesc were poor. Still not getting our flowing style of play back.
January 26th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
oh crap… i’m 7 minutes behind ctpa… i better stop reading this…
January 26th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
@27 - that’s cos it was an own goal (Butt)
January 26th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Did Eduardo even get a touch for the 3rd? It looked to be an own goal from Butt. Almost like the own goal that Arsenal gave up on tuesday.
I forgot that Arsenal beat Newcastle 2-0 in the Carling Cup back in September. That game was before their Dec 5th league meeting as I incorrectly mentioned above.
January 26th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Butt headed it in, if he hadn’t have Eduardo probably would of.
January 26th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
@ 14: against the mighty plymouth! hurray for him!! even gilberto the terrible has scored goals!
January 26th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Adebayor is now showing the quality and the patience that is truly marvelous to behold. He is my MOTD. Clichy has a strong shout for MOTD. In my mind,Adebayor is becoming a quietly exciting player. His goals say, that looks easy but we know they are not. Remember I said this was going to be Ade’s Drogba type year. Now we have to worry about the fall off in adjunct scoring.
For those who wanted Owen, you have exhibit A, a sad specimen camping out in the offside position all game long.
No histrionics from Lehmann. Worth noting.
January 26th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
competition is such a beautiful thing isnt it?
adebayor is the only person in our first 11 who has any solid competition (from bendtner). hence the massive strides forward for him this season.
u might think adebayor and bendtner dont get along for random reasons…nah, not true. its because they are competing for the same spot. same reason henry and ljunberg versus reyes.
January 26th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
yeah, ctpa….lehmann has completely cut out the shouting and fooling around. competition and bench warming is a very sobering experience.
if we can put some very solid modric/gouffran/vandervaart type material on the bench, the fire under hleb/rosicky’s asses will be so hot they will then start playing like gods.
January 26th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Danny…it was a deflected goal for Diarra; a hopeful long punt which got deflected and went in. Credit to him for taking the shot on though. Still Diarra’s gone - so who cares now.
Gallas and Senderos looked really solid at the back. Clichy has a wonderful wonderful engine. Who is Ashley Cole?? Diaby was abysmally good — if there’s such a thing. His close control is a joy but he’s so ridiculously bad at passing if its more than a 5 yard pass that he is infuriating at times. Still..there’s time — there are a lot of positives in his game..Seriously though I’d love it if he worked a bit harder. He’s not even as good defensively as Mozart which is not saying a lot of him. Flamini — hope he signs..cracker of a performance. Big Ade gets deducted points for going solo when he should have passed. Still the fact that he finished it off says a lot of him. More later.
January 26th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
My view is the regular first team football. Imagine had Henry still here, Ade would not have started every game, and he would not possibly have progressed as rapidly as he has shown.
In fact, Ade’s first team place this season is safer than anyone else. The same can speak for Clichy, Flamini the likes, they all progressed with regular first team football.
those flinge players who are trying to force their way into first team are the one who struggle, players like denilson, diaby, Walcott.
Senderos is a good example. whenever he came on to play an odd game every now and then, he look shaky. but if u give him a run of matches, his confidence will pick up. Today he doesn’t look like that shaky, panic self of him at all.
i believe it will be the same case for Diaby, Theo, Denilson the likes. Diaby has not impressed me much these past 2 matches, but u can see the raw attritubes of him is there. Strong, good on the ball. but like Theo, probably he’s been trying too keen to impress. and his decision making is not there yet. but those soft of things u can improve.
January 26th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
The improvement in Adebayor’s finishing this season has been incredible. Just goes to show why young players require patience.
It’s hard to believe that this is the same player who couldn’t hit anything other than his girlfriend prior to this season. His rise has been almost identical to Drogba’s. Long may it continue.
January 26th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Chelsea-Wigan. All the pundits can talk about is the Bramble factor. There are some players, Bramble, Traore who become parodies. Gilberto falls into that category through ommssion and not commission. His lack of defense on Jenas has revived talk of Jenas getting an England call-up. That’s how good he made Jenas look.
January 26th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Adebayor was a sheer monster - he is so physically dominant, and now has the skill, guile, touch, and flair to make him truly great.
The first goal was a la Drogba, and the second was reminiscent of Henry.
Long may this continue.
January 26th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Lehmann (6) Had hardly anything to do
Hoyte (6) The obvious weak link at the back
Gallas (8) Nice and steady
Senderos (7) Not overly tested but played well
Clichy (8) Fantastic display, attacked with verve
Walcott (6) Still struggling, needs a bit of luck to restore his confidence
Flamini (7) Decent defensive display
Fabregas (7) Short passing great, final ball still not hitting his mark
Diaby (6) A little disappointing, but at least he wants the ball
Rosicky (5) Taken off after 9 minutes. Practically useless, the bloke is made of glass, we should sell him or buy a world class left winger and forget about him
Eduardo (7) Good game, hit the post, silent assassin
Adebayor (9) Two excellent goals, slowly turning into the dream striker
January 26th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
I’ll be watching Osasuna (and hoping for a Carlos Vela sighting) play Sevilla today.
Have a great day guys. Arsenal has made my day.
January 26th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
of course it will continue guys. this guy is only 23, 24? and u can see his game is still relatively raw. there are a lot of room to improve. AW’s record on unearthing world class strikers is second to none. Weah, Anelka, Henry. Ade got one more extra attritube that Anelka and Henry doesn’t - his remarkable workrate. and he is not shy of heading the ball as well. if he can improve his shooting technic, he gotta be one of the most complete central forward we ever seen.
i remember in the summer some dream of the signing of Eto’o… if Barca makes an offer to trade us Eto’O for Ade, would anyone still want to take it? I wouldn’t.
January 26th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
And, he is durable. To think he still has so much upside potential is scary.
January 26th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Osasuna-Sevilla today at 4. Will enjoy another dose of Vela in a high profile match. I think he may be the guy to push Rosicky from behind, and replace him when he’s out
January 26th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
i would still take eto’o…though at this stage not for adebayor. the guy is growing exponentially and he is now in sight of drogba…yet 6 years younger.
his success is one of many reasons why saying any of our young players “100% wont make it here” are ridiculously myopic.
in general i refuse to beat on any young player who plays once a month. young players grow exponentially, adebayor was nothing last year today he is nearing the drogba level. older guys like gilberto deserve all the pummeling they get though.
January 26th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
The Gunners central defender picked up a groin injury in Ivory Coast’s 4-1 win over Benin on Friday, yet general secretary of the Federation Ivoirienne de Football, Ouattara Hego, has moved to ease fears of a long lay-off.
“His injury is not important. When he first came off it looked bad but now he is okay and recovering,” Hego said. “We think he will be fit for the next game against Mali on Tuesday.”
January 26th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
i hope we get a very lowly team at home in the next game.
January 26th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Exactly Fred. I’d rather write off a 30-yr-old than a 20-yr-old.
it’s so easy to write off the kids, particular those who hasn’t established themselves as the first team regular. cos if they made a mistake in a rare match they start, they don’t have the chance to redeem it the next game. yet even the first teamers made ton of mistakes in a match as well, only difference is if they do well the next moment, or the next game, nobody would remember.
take Gallas, i think he had a crap game Vs Spurs, got beaten one on one by Keane and Berbartvo again and again. but he would always has that “next match” to redeem it. if he’s an up and coming youngster, immediately we would hear this kid is never going to make it.
a very convinent criticism.
January 26th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
I think Diaby had a good game. His first touch is excellent and some of his passes were very good. I think in the Arsenal system Wenger rates the first touch quite high and Diaby’s is miles ahead of Adebayors. His intelligence need to progress, but the only way that is going to happen is by playing regularly and gaining experience.
Theo, on the other hand, looks hopeless at the moment. It is so obvious that he is struggling from a lack of confidence that you can only imagine what he must be going through inside. Sometimes you need a low like that to have a summer to build your strength, technique, and confidence. Here is hoping for a breakout year next season.
Some of the comments earlier said we were playing like crap. I disagree. I think that we were very professional, defended well, and controlled the tempo.
January 26th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Arsenal never played crap today at any point, although they never reached their peak either. People have to understand that teams will close down Arsenal all over the pitch in the first 45, so you have to wait for the space to appear later in the match - usually after 60 mins. That’s why Arsenal score most of their goals in the second half - and sometimes that inevitably means a draw if the team is a bit off colour or they make a silly defensive error.
January 26th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
“When is the 5th round draw?”
Monday, January 28 at 8:30 a.m. EST
January 26th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Well nice to back from the deep abyss of the 5-1 drubbing by the HotSpuds. I have had the usually submissive or at least fairly quiet Spuds fans give me and the Arsenal brethren a lot of mouth since that fateful day. I even had one inviting us all out to lunch, suggesting we meet at 5 to 1, LOL. Had to remind them that they still haven’t beaten our 1st team in 9 years and 22 attempts.
However I missed the first half of the Newcastle game. Nevertheless I was satisfied with the 2nd half performance, Ade could have had an hat trick. Diaby showed VISION in setting him up only a good block by their defending prevented what would have been a certain goal.
Nice to hear someone or two defending Diaby as i rate him highly. I must admit he does hold onto the ball too long at times, I think that is because he sometimes trys to impress a little too much by showing what he can do, not because he is stupid and lacks vision. He is good going forward, has a good shot and an eye for goal. I agree he does unwisely try to thread balls through the eye of the needle at times and like all pros gives the ball away but i do not see his passing as, as woeful as some people make out. I think the amount of critics Diaby gets is due to “bandwagonism”, just like Eboue another player whom I rate but seems to be a hate figure at the moment.
Eboue is a good player just has some bad games but people seem to forget his brilliance like in the first half against Villa his vision was outstanding, pass and movement exceptional in parts.
Joshuad I hear your criticisms and I will watch Diaby more closely to try to see the lack of vision for myself but I got to say maybe due to ignorance I cannot see it at the moment, neither can Arsene it seems. But as we all know there are a lot of things Arsene does not see, lol.
I remember Ade used to get huge amounts of criticism and deservedly so in some cases (mainly due to poor finishing), but I amongst other saw how much he contributed to the team and his talent/skill. Even Thierry suggested that he may not become a world class player. I know we all hope that Diaby and Eboue will prove all their doubters wrong as Ade has.
January 26th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Preach the truth, Arthur! Preach it LOUD!
January 26th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
I’ve been praising Ade for a while now so it’s nice to let others do so.
I was also impressed by Dudu today. He didn’t score, but he did seem to me to show signs of being up with the game. His challenge, like many, seems to be to adjust to the pace of the game. He showed signs of that today.
Mouth-watering to think of the Ade-Dudu combo, both can score a lot of goals, both seem to be intelligent footballers. Perhaps they will be the future striking duo with RvP having a wide role with a licence to roam. That would leave Hleb and Rosicky to fight for a role and also challenge RvP.
January 26th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
I’ll say one thing for the Toon and it’s that they came to play football and I appreciated it.
I’ve never been much for fat Sam’s negative football and at Newcastle he didn’t have as many Thuggies to rough things up like at Bolton (except for Smith).
If the new Geordie boss Keegan, keeps this up, I presume their team will get better and they certainly need a polish. Nice to see the colourful Toon Army on display to.
Great match. Grateful for the win as it’d be nice to see some silverware this year.
Let’s hope Tuesday works out as well with another victory and lots more goals.
Go you red and white!!!
January 26th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Till Tue, Ade had scored all his 15 goals in the league. Now he has scored in both the domestic cups in a matter of few days. Hope he can continue the same in the CL.
Do Eduardo and Cesc get assists for the first and third goals?
I loved the way Eduardo played y’day. He is slowly but surely settling in. He still hasn’t adapted fully to the pace and intensity of the game, but he will do so soon and we will have a great strike force at Arsenal.
January 26th, 2008 at 11:48 pm
Looks like Vela has a good game vs Sevilla.
http://youngguns.wordpress.com/2008/01/26/carlos-vela-scouting-report-v-sevilla/
January 27th, 2008 at 11:59 am
Nipuna, I saw most of the Osasuna match, and I thought Vela was a bit off form. The GolTV announcers also agreed that it wasn’t his best match. Yes he got fouled a lot, but he also dribbled into a lot of blind alleys, a la Theo.
He’s got a huge upside, but is still a raw talent, and will need time to settle in.
In other matters, it sounds like the deal for 20 yo Yoan Gouffran from Caen might get settled. Yet another pacy young striker-winger to add to the Wenger mix!