voldemort

Pulp Fiction
The most intriguing tie of the fourth round of the FA Cup is this clash at the Emirates between giants who have just been humbled by neighbours they had bossed for years, and visitors who have just been rescued by a returning king promising to lead them to long lost treasure. Throw in the fact that Saturday's two adversaries have already met twice this season with contrasting outcomes, are due to lock horns again on Tuesday of next week, and have also met three times previously in FA Cup finals, and you have all the ingredients for a ripping yarn.
Indeed, Arsenal v Newcastle at this particular moment is the stuff of pulp fiction, with sub-plots everywhere you look.
Arsenal are still level with Manchester United on points at the top of the Premier League, but the growing perception is that United's advantage is not simply plus six in the Goal Difference column, but that great intangible: momentum. The force appears to be with them, and that breeds confidence. In contrast some of the shine has come off Arsenal in recent weeks. Results and performances had been a little patchy even before Tottenham's worm finally turned at White Hart Lane in the second leg of the Gunners' Carling Cup semi-final.
That stunning 5-1 rout of the old enemy was cathartic for Spurs; but will it prove catastrophic for Arsenal? The FA Cup may not be the top priority for the Premiership's elite four these days - the return visit of Newcastle on Tuesday, when League points will be at stake, will count for more in the long run; yet suddenly Saturday's FA Cup clash is the most important match in Arsenal's season to date. It is the one that will show whether they have the resilience - the mental strength that manager Arsene Wenger says they have in abundance - to recover quickly from the chastening experience of that Carling Cup exit.
It is not just the margin and manner of their defeat against Spurs from which Arsenal must bounce back (the combination of first-team regulars and young reserves did not work on this occasion; uncharacteristically, the Gunners had no cutting edge in attack and looked alarmingly vulnerable at the back). It is also the unedifying evidence of internal tension that needs to be addressed and eradicated immediately.
Whether through sheer frustration, wounded pride, arrogance or simple dislike for one another, Emmanuel Adebayor and Nicklas Bendtner got caught up in a physical spat that brought no credit on themselves or their team. There have been subsequent apologies all round, but Wenger must quickly tackle the cause and restore the unity within the group that was such a positive feature of their impressive start to the campaign.
Arsenal cannot afford to put a foot wrong on Saturday because another unconvincing performance - still worse, a home defeat - could set the gremlins of doubt gnawing at their self-confidence and undermine them, perhaps fatally, for the challenges to come. Given how mentally tough Chelsea are looking, and the fact that Manchester United traditionally get stronger round about now and will be scenting blood from the Emirates, these are critical moments for the Wenger boys.
They really could use an emphatic victory based on an assured and a stylish performance in order to regain their equilibrium and soothe their nerves.
In that context this may not be the ideal time to be playing a Keegan-inspired Newcastle. Kevin messianic return to Tyneside has galvanised the club and the city, although his first match in charge was a bit of a damp squib: a drab goalless draw against Bolton buried under an avalanche of expectation.
Saturday will no doubt be different. Keegan has had a full week to re-acquaint himself with the job, to adjust to the hype and the hope and to focus on ways to beat Arsenal. Spurs may have given him a few ideas in midweek but then Spurs under Ramos have now got a bit of momentum, and a following wind of confidence; the Magpies, are still drifting, waiting for the fuse to be lit.
Given Newcastle's FA Cup heritage this would be the perfect time to light that fuse; this competition is the only trophy they can win this season, and while a Wembley triumph may sound fanciful at this stage, progress in the FA Cup is like a blood transfusion to most clubs. On Tyneside an FA Cup run is the drug of choice.
Keegan has confirmed that Alan Shearer will not be coming in as number two, but put a typically positive spin on it and left the door open for the club's talismanic ex-striker to be involved in some capacity for the greater good of the Geordie nation. This sensitive issue has been handled in such a way that there should be no destabilising ripples, so Newcastle should pitch up at Ashburton Grove fully focused on the job in hand.
They lost there in September in the Carling Cup, when Sam Allardyce's full-strength side were outplayed by Wenger's young stars; but in December Allardyce appeared to have bought himself some time by holding - and going close to beating - the Gunners after falling behind to an early goal. A few weeks later Allardyce had gone; will it be third time lucky against Arsenal for Newcastle under new management? The Toon Army certainly hope so, along - probably - with most neutrals.

FORM GUIDE
Arsenal
22 Jan (Carling Cup) v Tottenham (A) LOST 1-5
19 Jan (Prem) v Fulham (A) WON 3-0
12 Jan (Prem) v Birmingham (H) DREW 1-1
09 Jan (Carling Cup) v Tottenham (H) DREW 1-1
06 Jan (FA Cup) v Burnley (A) won 2-0
01 January (Prem) v West Ham (H) WON 2-0

Newcastle
19 Jan (Prem) v Bolton (H) DREW 0-0
16 Jan (FA Cup) v Stoke (H) WON 4-1
12 Jan (Prem) v Man Utd (A) LOST 0-6
06 Jan (FA Cup) v Stoke (A) DREW 0-0
02 Jan (Prem) v Man City (H) LOST 1-2
29 Dec (Prem) v Chelsea (A) LOST 1-2

TEAM NEWS
Arsenal
Defenders Philippe Senderos and Gael Clichy are available after injuries, but Brazilian midfielder Denilson is out for a month with a hamstring injury. Also unavailable through injury are Johan Djourou (groin) and Robin van Persie (thigh), while Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue and Alex Song are on African Cup of Nations duty.

Last Starting XI (v Tottenham): Fabianski, Sagna, Justin Hoyte, Gallas, Traore (Eduardo 65), Hleb, Denilson (Fabregas 18), Silva, Diaby, Walcott (Adebayor 65), Bendtner. Subs Not Used: Mannone, Flamini.
Squad: Almunia, Sagna, Senderos, Gallas, Clichy, Rosicky, Fabregas, Flamini, Hleb, Eduardo, Adebayor, Lehmann, Gilberto, Diaby, J Hoyte, Bendtner, Walcott.

Newcastle Newcastle welcome back midfielders Nicky Butt and Alan Smith from suspension, but Emre is still out.
Striker Mark Viduka is doubtful with a calf problem, and Joey Barton has trained this week, but is not expected to be involved. Newcastle are without Obafemi Martins, Geremi, Habid Beye and Abdoulaye Faye who are on duty in Africa.
Last Starting XI (v Bolton): Given, Carr, Taylor, Cacapa, Jose Enrique, Milner, Rozehnal, N'Zogbia, Duff (LuaLua 80), Owen, Ameobi. Subs Not Used: Harper, Edgar, Troisi, Carroll.
Squad: Given, Harper, Carr, N'Zogbia, Enrique, Rozehnal, Cacapa, Taylor, Edgar, Butt, Smith, Milner, Duff, LuaLua, Owen, Ameobi, Carroll.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Arsenal
Emmanuel Adebayor was Arsenal's Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde in midweek, coming off the bench to score a superb goal, then revealing his less constructive side by, it is alleged, insulting then assaulting team-mate Nicklas Bendtner. Let's have a bit more of the former, Manu, and none of the latter, and you could pose Newcastle problems, particularly in the air - as you did in December at St James' with another brilliantly executed goal.

Newcastle
Charles N'Zogbia has the skill to exploit any disorganisation or hesitancy in the Arsenal ranks, and could be Newcastle's best bet for inflicting damage on the Gunners, depending on the brief he's given. He's been used as a full-back but going forward his winger's instinct make him a particular threat.

PREDICTION
Will Arsenal bounce back or be bounced out by Newcastle's KK bandwagon? Not easy to call in view of recent events but, keeping a sense of perspective, Arsenal are undoubtedly the better side at the moment, and if they can get their heads right for this one they could win it comfortably.
Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle United



source:goal.com