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.