Why Newcastle United CAN beat Arsenal*
This week I bumped into two people who know what it's like to win away at Arsenal.
Firstly, John Beresford, the popular little full-back helped Kevin Keegan's Entertainers to victory in the 1994/95 season as part of United's fantastic incredible start to the campaign which resulted in SIX straight wins.
United won that day thanks to goals from Ruel Fox, Peter Beardsley and an OG from Martin Keown in a 3-2 win against an Arsenal team containing the likes of Ian Wright and Tony Adams.
The second victor was Olly Bernard, who was part of Sir Bobby's team that won 3-1 on a glorious night at Highbury when Andy O'Brien, Laurent Robert and Alan Shearer netted in North London.
On both occasions for Bernard and Bez, they left Arsenal as table toppers.
But the message from both of them this week was that Newcastle CAN beat Arsenal if they go about their business in the right way.
Beresford said: "If you go there and get in their faces, they won't like it.
"Yes, Arsenal are a class outfit and we all don't need to be told.
"But why go there and fear them?, they can be beaten and already have so, why not?"
Bernard, who has been helping Cheik Tiote settle into life on Tyneside, said: "I know what it's like to win at Arsenal so it is all about going there with confidence."
Certainly, if somebody offered you a draw now, you'd rip their hand off!
After all Newcastle have failed to win at the Emirates in five miserable attempts.
But at least we salavaged a point under the guidance of Glenn Roeder the day that Kieron Dyer netted in our first visit to the venue.
That seems like a long time ago though, in fact it was 420 minutes in Emirates time for Newcastle!
However, going in on the back of a fantastic 5-1 hiding of Sunderland, the confidence which Bernard talks about had to be there.
Certainly chatting to a few current Toon players this week, it is there.
If you didn't get carried away with the Sunderland victory, you might just get excited on Sunday night if the Mags shoot down the Gunners!
*According to two blokes who've done it
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Lee Ryder - Proudly born and bred on Tyneside, the Chronicle's chief sports writer has followed the fortunes of the club over the last three decades as a Toon fan and football writer.
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Did Sunday see the Return of The Entertainers?
http://toonbarmy.wordpress.com/2010/11/03/return-of-the-entertainers/
Love to see it but just can't.
Arsenal aren't gona be as bad as the mackems & we've seen what their second string can do, they are one of the best teams in the country & we're just finding our feet in this league.
Fingers crossed we can get something on Sunday
Wonderful to watch those highlights, top of the league!!
Pace and creativity were in abundance on that fabulous night, as well as a team of players galvanised by the manager - dear old Sir Bobby.
Its amazing to think how far we've dropped since then but our team now has begun to fill me with hope. We have a bit of pace, we need more. We had a spark of creativity until Dirty De Jong snapped it in half, although Joey Barton and Jonas are doing their level best to make things happen in midfield. But what we certainly do have, perhaps even more so than 94/95 is a team of players who wear the shirt with pride, work hard and really seem to want to succeed for our manager.
I'm sad to say that I'm still not 100 % convinced that Chris will be our manager in a years time, but one thing that has, and continues, to impress me can be summed up in one word - 'improvement'. So man of the players that took us down have improved since then, especially since CH was appointed as permanent manager, and Chris himself has also. Tactically I have always thought he was naive, but the last few performances have shown his willingness to be flexible, even though it may not seem rocket science that when you play two big strikers you have to cross the ball to them!
As I said earlier, I am filled with hope. I don't expect us to win on Sunday but I hope we continue to play good football, attack and try and get a result. I hope that we continue to score lots of goals and survive in the Premier League this season, whether that means 17th or 7th. I hope that CH continues to surpass our expectations and continues to unearth gems in the transfer market. Perhaps then, in 12, 24 or even 36 months time (after we've stuffed the mackems another 3 times!) we can hope to progress and aim for a uefa cup spot and maybe even more.
PS: Look at the team Bobby put out for that game at Highbury, would the following players would get into our team nowadays??
O' Brian, Lua Lua, Bernard, Nik the Greek??
This is a 'pressure-off' weekend. If we go there and get a kicking, it's hardly a shock and we shouldn't panic or - God forbit - start up the ridiculous rumours about Hughton again. Hughton won't have planned on getting anything from the match, so the players can play without fear. Get in their faces, try not to be too negative and don't be afraid to shoot (dodgy keeper). Anything we get is a bonus. Premier League survival won't be won at places like Arsenal.
Dont forget everyone the game on Sunday is the one after the Lord Mayors show.NOW i would luv to see us get something,but i just have that 50 odd year feeling. SO WE'LL GET 3 POINTS.
Sunday will be the only game so far this season im not nervous about because all preasure is off. I dont think hughton will be telling the players that though.
I totally agree with all your comments above. Getting 3 points at arsenal will be FANTASTIC!! You never know with football, but I'll sit on the fence on this one, that means will get a draw and im sure every fan will be absolutely delighted with that. Like one commented above saying this is a pressure off game and the lads will just go out and play exactly what they have been doing. Somehow I have a feeling Tiote is really looking forward to this game and show how a class act he is and pit his wits against song and fabregas in the middle. But I'm all the lads will be pumped for this one as well and show how far we have come.
Newcastle were calm, cool, and in control. I know they can be horrible the next match, but maybe we will look back to the October 16th game against Wigan and say that the Coloccini header was a turning point in Newcastle's season. They really are playing like a Top Flight club at the moment!
Toon Toon!