About tomorrow's game that is? Ugh I can't stand thinking about it and I've just gone and ordered PPV. I must be bloody mad!

-- Anonymous, December 17, 2001

Answers

A touch? Biggest understatement of my life I was to say that :(

My mate's a big Arsenal fan and he reckons it'll be 3-0 to them, which I honestly think is being kind on us.

-- Anonymous, December 17, 2001

Not at all actually Lynda. Not after the 3 points we took off Graham Dourness' team. In fact anything better than a stuffing and this turkey might even order himself a second pint

-- Anonymous, December 17, 2001

I'm with you Paul I'm afraid. However I will sit and watch and hope and pray and.............you never know!

-- Anonymous, December 17, 2001

If we loose I'll be dissapointed, satisfied with a draw, over the moon with a win. I honestly think we'll nick it. I don't know why no-one else thinks this. People keep saying our squad isn't good enough to win the league. How many clubs can bring on a sub that makes the difference that LuaLua made on Saturday?

We have as good a squad as anyone else in the premier league. I don't care what the press say. Dyer (international) Shearer (chooses not to be) Bellamy (international) Solano (international) Dabizas, Robert, Ameobi, Need I go on? Anyway I'm going off the point.

But we SHOULD be favourites to win tomorrow. If Tottenham or any other club in the top 10 had our squad, manager and support. They would be favourites to win he league in our current position.

-- Anonymous, December 17, 2001

3 - 0 5 mins into half time, they'll score 1 then we'll score again (penalty) 4-1 to the toon.

If this comes out you will believe anything I say?

-- Anonymous, December 17, 2001

We'll surprise you. Just ask Pit Bill if you don't believe me!

-- Anonymous, December 17, 2001

No, not nervous: this isn't a game we are expected to win, everyone in the media seems to think our league position is false and there's the London thing so we can relax, do our best and hope that our goal difference isn't TOO badly affected.

-- Anonymous, December 17, 2001

I'd love to think we could win and I'd be absolutely over the moon if we did pull it off, but for me it's not going to happen unless Arsenal do another Charlton.

-- Anonymous, December 17, 2001

My nervousness relates to the team we might put out. With Rob Lee's injury, there is the obvious temptation to play Dyer in Rob's position. Given his fitness levels, and the fact that it also looks as though Robert will come back in, I think this could be a mistake.

Given the developing injury situation, an injury to either Speed or Solano tomorrow would leave us in real trouble for the Leeds game.

-- Anonymous, December 17, 2001

Isnt this the time we should start suffering from bad playing and injuries thx to the Intertoto? The injuries are coming at least...tomorrow maybe also the rest.

-- Anonymous, December 17, 2001

If we have to lose, I won't mind that much, as long as the concensus is 'Spawny cockney tawts'.

If we fold, it's no more than we've been brain washed to expect.

Mind, 'Spawny Geordie tawts' would be 'cancel Xmas for the rest of the millenium', without a doubt.

And by the way, THERE IS NO LONDON JINX

-- Anonymous, December 17, 2001

Not the least bit nervous as I fully expect us to lose, the only question being by how much. That's actually the only thing that usually makes me nervous when I expect us to lose, though even that doesn't make me nervous(yet, I'll likely engage in some nail-biting as ko approaches) this time. At least we seem to have a team capable of damage limitation so I don't think we'll lose by more than 2 or 3 goals. ;-)

-- Anonymous, December 17, 2001

Come on. Wider picture folks. Are we kidding ourselves in third position any more than the arse are kidding themselves in second position, and even then, only on goal diff ?

Are we there on merit or not ?

We've got nee chance if Bobby has to come up with a lineup for tonight's game having to consider the implications on the outcome of future games.

As long as he puts out a side that shows as well against the gooners, as we did against chewsea, I'll be satisfied.

I can't ignore the glimpses of daylight that are starting to show, so excuse me if I have the occasional fit of optimism. The cynical among you are quite at liberty to see this only as clutching at straws, but in my case, that's nowt new, so even if it goes tits up tomorrow, c'est la vie.

The rags will have a field day, the makems will have a field day, and we'll just grin and bear it, like always. And even if we do get shown up, it's nowt we haven't seen before.

If we look as though we're making progress, that'll do me, although a good result would be the icing.

But nee prophecies from this owld scrote.

-- Anonymous, December 17, 2001

I`m looking forward to it - what a great opportunity to knock this stupid `London` thing on the head. Anyway, we always play better when everone has written us off! (:o)

HOWAY THE LADS!!!

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

excited.... not nervous. We ARE going to win

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

After failures at WHam, Charlton and others, I consoled myself with the statement that we don't want to break the run at poxy places like Wham or Charlton. Highbury would be the appropriate place to nail this hoodoo.

So tonight's the night. Dunno what I'll say tomorrow if we don't get the win, (although it would be nice to stuff Glenda's vastly overrated outfit).

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

I'm nervous that we'll win. Think what that'll do to the rampant optimism and how we'll really be set up for the inevitable fall.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

And what will the copy writers do for tomorrow when they can't tag on another 1 to the infamous number of non-wins in London? I noted that no-one had mentioned Blackburn's poor form at St James Park ...apparently it was something like 40 odd years since they last won there. Is there a Rovers/SJP jinx?

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

Of course we'll win tonight - has no-one noticed...it's Christmas!

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

Or as someone once sang:

It's Chriiiiiiiiiiisssssssssstttttttttttttmmmmmmmmmaaaaaaaaasssssss!

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

Fair point Bobby, but I'd liken any jinx Blackburn might have at SJP to our so called jinx at Soton. It's failing to beat any club in London that might look like black magic, and we all know there ain't no such thing.

Up to now, we've never been good enough on the day, but that absolutely will not last forever, even if I never see it.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

That's exactly it PB, "not good enough on the day". Fortunatley we are not playing them during the day. We ARE going to win!!!

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

I'm not nervous, I'm not expecting a win and don't want to think how my hopes will be raised if we do get a result. Saying that none of the media have given us a hope, maybe that'll ease the pressure on the lads to break this London jinx.

B*gger I'm talking myself into being optimistc !

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

Go for it Kats, just keep yer plates on terra firma. It won't be the end of the world any more than it'll be the long term answer to all our prayers.

I've decided I've had enough of having my nerves in tatters even before a ball's been kicked, so b0ll0x to it, this time I'm just going to hope for the best but not be permanently down in the dumps if sh1t does happen.

Positive anticipation. Enjoy.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

My expectations are very low for the game - all I ask is they give it their best and aren't too defensive. We aren't a bad away side, and we should at least be able to cause them some problems even if they do put 3 or 4 past us. On the pessimistic side, Bellamy never scores in one-on-ones and we never win in London.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

Actually Dan makes a good point. I like the fact we're third and playing well without anyone flagging up 'potential championship contenders'. Should we actually win tonight that would change.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

yeah but, if we are going to do well we have to OWN self belief, otherwise we might as well just accept we watch the team for a bit of entertainment and nowt else. N E R V E S!

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

For the first time in a long time EVERYONE outside North London and some small enclave on Wearside wants us to win tonight. Not cos we're the entertainers, not cos we play exciting football and people like us, its because they all know that in the long run we won't win the league so us compressing the top even further would keep their excitement going.

Now Villa are back in the championship race (this morning on 5 Live) there are 6 teams who can win it, and us.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

Jonno...where are yer man. This big lad once said to me, be an optimist. If you think you're gonna win, and you do, smashin, happy twice. If you think ya gonna lose and ya win, happy once. If you think ya gonna lose ya shitty before the game and after. if ya think ya gonna win and ya don't ya only shitty once. So have a good week folks, we're gonna win, and if you wonna be shitty twice an really get everyone down....be a pessimist. (changed me to delusion anyway for others sake I always say anyway!)

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

Last Won May '97, Elliot of all people. Here's some stats from SKY:

ARSENAL V NEWCASTLE STATPACK Arsenal v Newcastle Highbury, Tuesday, December 18 Kick-Off 8pm, Live on Premiership Plus Team News | Arsenal guide | Arsenal penpics | Newcastle guide | Newcastle penpics Opta Index WILL THEY EVER WIN IN LONDON? Newcastle have failed to win any of their last 23 Premiership visits to London, losing 16! Their last win in London came at Crystal Palace in November 1997, winning 2-1 at Selhurst Park. Have failed to win any of their last 29 visits to London in all competitions, losing 20. These defeats include the 1998 and 1999 FA Cup finals (1998 was against Arsenal), and the 2000 FA Cup semi-final, all at Wembley. HEAD TO HEAD (Premiership) Played 16 Arsenal 7 Newca stle 6 Drawn 3  < TD>29 HEAD TO HEAD (League) Played 136 Arsenal 48 New castle 59 Drawn     The last meeting was a 0-0 draw at St James' Park in May. Arsenal have lost just 1 of the last 8 meetings, winning 4. Newcastle's last win came on the last day of the 1999/00 season, they won 4-2 at St James' Park. Newcastle's goals came from Alan Shearer, Andy Griffin and Gary Speed (2). Kanu and Stefan Malz scored for Arsenal. Newcastle's win at St James' Park is the only time they have scored in the last 4 meetings. Arsenal won the last meeting here 5-0 in December 2000. Arsenal's goals came from  Thierry Henry, Kanu and three from Ray Parlour. Arsenal are unbeaten in the last 4 meetings here, winning 3 of them. Newcastle have won just 3 of the last 17 here, losing 10. Newcastle's last win here was in May 1997, they won 1-0 with a goal from Robbie Elliott, Newcastle finished 2nd in the Premier League during this season, Arsenal were 3rd. -- Anonymous, December 18, 2001 The Newcastle guide lists YBR's illustrious career honours and record wwith Newcastle. Velly interesting -- Anonymous, December 18, 2001 Have I buggered this up aswell? AT HIGHBURY Played 68 Arsenal 32 Newc astle 20 Drawn 16 -- Anonymous, December 18, 2001 Is that better? -- Anonymous, December 18, 2001 we don't want to break the run at poxy places like Wham or Charlton. Highbury would be the appropriate place to nail this hoodoo. I have been saying this for weeks. I'm so pleased it came true. Hoodoo broken at HIGHBURY and WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE. Happy Christmas everyone! -- Anonymous, December 18, 2001 Happy Christmas to you too :) -- Anonymous, December 18, 2001 Happy xmas to one & all indeed -- Anonymous, December 18, 2001 Please sir, can I have some more? -- Anonymous, December 18, 2001 Moderation questions? read the FAQ