Old Game Threads!

[c.ronaldo#1]

Great 1st half performance. I hope Hleb is ok for the game on Weds.

[Arsenal007]

Arsenal will take on the struggling magpies. Can possibly move 6 points ahead in the Prem with a win!

*What are your thoughts

[NJ10]

Arsenal should win. although if Hleb doesnt make it that will be a massive blow. they must beware a reaction in front of Newcastle's home fans, but i think the Gunners will have too much for the Barcodes and their boo boy fans.

[Werdna]

Newcastle are due a win...

They actually played quite well at Blacburn and definetely deserved atleast a point with an improved performance. I also get the feeling the bad press will motivate the players more and bring them closer together if it's true what Shay Given said and they were annoyed with the lies.

And how better to get the boo boys off their backs then with a win against the leaders?

And it would be great news for the other teams at the top!

[Dellas]

87th min atm and the score is 1-1

Adebayor for Arsenal in the 4th min and Taylor in the 60 min

very important few mins for both teams...Newcastle need to up their game in general if they want to finish in a respectable position at the end of the season....and Arsenal need to win to increase the gap between the other teams.

[Dellas]

FT: 1-1

Steven Taylor scored a second-half equaliser to ease the pressure on Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce.

Emmanuel Adebayor put leaders Arsenal in front with a brilliant volley after just four minutes but Taylor equalised with a shot on the turn.

Geremi headed inches wide and forced a decent save from Manuel Almunia, while the keeper also blocked from Taylor.

Gilberto volleyed wide for Arsenal, who could have gone six points clear at the top of the Premier League.

It was Arsenal's game in hand and manager Arsene Wenger had highlighted the importance of extending their advantage over second place Manchester United to six points.

But the Gunners, who remain unbeaten in the Premier League, failed to build on their early goal and Newcastle were worthy of their point after a match in which they played with great determination and endeavour.

The draw against the leaders will come as welcome respite for Allardyce, whose team had taken just one point from their previous five Premier League matches.

Allardyce's future has been in question over recent days, while rumours of player unrest continued to surround the club.

source: BBC SPORT | Football | Premier League | Newcastle 1-1 Arsenal

apparently if Newcastle lost tonight Big Sam would have been out of a job....so he can breathe easily for now.

[kyan]

Mike Ashley looked very happy at FT.

Newcastle probably deserved the win even more than Arsenal tbh, especially based on the second half. In the last 5 minutes alone Newcastle had like 6 corners! Y don't they play like that more often...

[Arsenal007]

1-1 draw amazing goal from ade.

Talyor goal lucky but have to hand it to Newcastle.

4 points on top

[Werdna]

Originally Posted by kyan

Mike Ashley looked very happy at FT.

Newcastle probably deserved the win even more than Arsenal tbh, especially based on the second half. In the last 5 minutes alone Newcastle had like 6 corners! Y don't they play like that more often...

They played quite well on Saturday at Blackburn as well just didn't score.

Nigel Winterburn actually made quite a good comment during the game. If Allardyce and his fitness team have been trying to get the players fitter and they haven't been used to it etc that could very well explain their lack of movement in previous games! Last night they put a lot of energy into the game and were chasing balls of over the pitch right up until the final whistle. So maybe they are finally getting a bit fitter and hopefully will improve a bit now.

[Pennywise]

I reckon Big Sam will stay for some more days after one point against Gunners. Good effort, but something must change if N'castle shall play in Europe next season.

[hijjawi1]

vs

English Premier League
Middlesbrough (18th, EPL, 11/45 pts) v Arsenal (1st, EPL, 37/45 Pts)
Sunday, 9th December, 2007, kick-off 13:30 (GMT)
Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough.

Goals
1-0 Downing (Min 3) [Goal + Challenge led to the Penalty 2 Replays] CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO
Chances
Sagna Skills (Min 34) CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO

[Arsenal007]

1-0 diaby 6' min.

Diaby Goal

2-0 bednter 42' min.

Bednter Goal

2-1 Zaharia 68' min.

Zaharia Goal

[Arsenal007]

Arsenal wins 2-1 and will get 2nd in group H

[Arsenal007]

Nothing will be decided this weekend. No trophies will be lifted, no medals handed out.

But it might feel like they should be.

On Sunday, the Premier League’s top four face each other. Manchester United go to Liverpool in the early fixture then Chelsea visit Arsenal. To be honest, on current form, there is not much between any of them.

Early season predictions of a two-horse race have proved unfounded and, if you were to assume that Liverpool would win their game in hand, then the quartet go into this weekend separated by a mere four points after 16 games.

You can see why Arsène Wenger feels this title race will be the most thrilling and open in Premier League history. And this could be its most thrilling weekend.

Hold onto your hats.

"I believe without a doubt that this season will be the most exciting year in the Premier League ever,” he said. “Since I've been here you have never had four teams as tight as this.

“It's very difficult to pick one out of the three contenders. For me all three are the same [strengths] but for different reasons. Chelsea because they have the quality, the experience and have done it. Liverpool because they have invested a lot and are keen to win it and Manchester United because they have the individual potential to score goals at any moment and have done it before.

“It is super-healthy. And this weekend, we have a good opportunity to strengthen our lead again because at least one of Liverpool and Man United will drop points, maybe both. A victory could put us in a very strong position."

Wenger will wait until the final possible moment before ruling on the injuries to Cesc Fabregas (hamstring), Alex Hleb (hamstring) and Mathieu Flamini (thigh). All three trained on Friday and afterwards the manager was upbeat about their involvement.

Robin van Persie is back after making his first Arsenal appearance in two months during the win over Steaua Bucharest on Wednesday. However Theo Walcott is out after collecting a knee injury in the same game.

Chelsea have re-grouped under Avram Grant after the departure of Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese made for wonderful newspaper copy but the side he produced favoured the functional over the beautiful. The media perception was that Grant would be the opposite. However, at present, the jury is still out on Chelsea’s move from the athletic to aesthetic football. Wenger feels we’ll know more after this match.

"I haven't seen them [under Grant] and anyway to find the real philosophy of a team you have to see them in the big games,” he said. “In the smaller game you can always dominate at home and of course you are always attacking. I think you will see more about the philosophy of Chelsea's game on Sunday."

This game will bring up the three-month anniversary of Arsenal going top of the Premier League. They ascended to the summit after a stirring London derby, a 3-1 win at Tottenham to be precise. Surely it will take performance of similar bravery to maintain their lead.

The manager dismissed the notion that this could be the critical game of campaign only to add: “But I hope we will play in decisive games this season."

Having already matched Manchester United and Liverpool, a victory on Sunday would suggest those “decisive games” are likely to involve Arsenal.

It might tell us the opponents too.

[Trim]

Great clash. Hopefully we'll see some good football.

No chance Chelsea are returning home with three points.