Match Preview/Stats/Thread: Newcastle Utd v Arsenal
By Tyne-Talk May 17 2013
Newcastle United host Arsenal in their final game of the season on Sunday confident in the knowledge that they will be in the Premier League next season. Newcastle go into the game on the back of one win, two defeats and three draws from their last six games in all competitions, whilst Arsenal travel on the back of four wins and two draws from their last six.
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew was criticised after the QPR game for joking that he wouldn’t mind if his side lost 4-0 to Arsenal, he quickly defended his comments stating that this was definitely not the case, whilst fans will be hoping the side can end the season on a high – and possibly their highest league position in many months.
The club are top of the Premier League Injury Table with 9 players receiving treatment this week. Cheik Tiote (knock), Steven Taylor (illness), Shola Ameobi (knee), Moussa Sissoko (knee), Massadio Haidara (hamstring), Tim Krul (shoulder), Davide Santon (hamstring) and long term absentees Ryan Taylor (ACL) and Haris Vuckic (ACL) are all listed as receiving treatment.
Davide Santon is the only player who has the Arsenal game as an expected return date, but depending on how ill Taylor was he could be expected back as should Tiote and Haidara, though they may not start.
Arsene Wenger is expected to be without Mikel Arteta (calf), instead he has Jack Wilshere on standby, despite preparing to have surgery on his ankle once the season ends. Abou Diaby (knee) is unavailable but Olivier Giroud returns from a 3 game ban.
Arsenal are chasing 3rd place in the League with the decision to be made on the final day for 3rd and 4th place. If Arsenal and Chelsea are all square on the final day of the season, there will be a play off for 3rd place, which Wenger has said he would quite like. However, Tottenham Hotspurs are hot on the heels of Arsenal, should they lose against Newcastle and Spurs win, they could overtake their arch rivals leaving Arsenal in 5th. Spurs could be quietly confident as Arsenal have only beaten Newcastle at St James Park once since 2004, on the flip side, Newcastle have been poor in recent months.
Despite a win at the weekend which pushed them into 13th place, Newcastle could end the season anywhere between 12th and 17th depending on the overall results at the weekend.
Fact: Since Wenger took over as manager of Arsenal in 1996, he has only won 5 of 15 away games against Newcastle Utd.
Fact: Steve Harper will play his final game for Newcastle Utd.
Newcastle United
Arsenal
37
Played
37
41
Points
70
11
Won
20
18
Lost
7
8
Drawn
10
45
Goals Scored
71
67
Goals Conceded
37
Match Preview/Stats/Thread: Newcastle Utd v Arsenal
Posted by: TyneTalk (IP Logged)
Date: 17/05/2013 12:06
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annie Your share is proportionate to how long you've been there. The tea lady has been there 50 years I reckon she's going to get the lions share.
Keep typing though just in case.
Nuts, I'll have to settle for 5 bob then. Enough to buy a to celebrate Premier League survival then.
The tea lady said on tv this morning that she would buy herself Sky tv if she got any money.
You'd think the club would do that for her anyways for 50 years service.
If she worked in a bank they'd give her a golden handshake no doubt.
I'm not sure about the tea lady. We've looked pretty good in the first half of games only to come out flat in the second. What is she putting in that half-time tea!?!?
16th place finish Only three good things about this forgettable season 1) Good run in Europa (which to be fair hurt us in the League probably) 2) Finishing ahead of that lot from across the river. 3) Wigan FINALLY getting relegated!
Well thank god that is over the game itself was ok better performance than the last two at home. We did however revert back to the kick and hope game once we conceded made it easier for Arsenal to close out the game.
16th is not good enough but I see Mr.P will still be in charge at the beginning of next season. More of the same to come or will we change who knows we will just have to wait and see.Happy summer everyone be lucky.
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to celebrate Premier League survival then. 
Only three good things about this forgettable season 1) Good run in Europa (which to be fair hurt us in the League probably) 2) Finishing ahead of that lot from across the river. 3) Wigan FINALLY getting relegated!