Luck may be coming back to Newcastle, as Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta was substituted in added time in the 4-1 win against Wigan last night – that sent Wigan down to the Championship and made Sunderland safe.
Mikel Arteta – serious doubt for Newcastle game
Arteta picked up a calf injury, and it’s very doubtful he will be fit for the game at St. James’ Park on Sunday. = so that’s good new for the Magpies.
This is what Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had to say after the game last night:
“Arteta is not alright,” “Arteta pulled his calf, so that could be a problem for Sunday. We don’t know, we have to wait 24 hours. He will be a massive doubt for Sunday.”
“I am confident, because we have experience. Because we play for a long time now under massive pressure and have always found solutions for the problems we’ve faced, so I’m confident.”
“It’s sad that Wigan are going down, because they are a good team. They play good football and is an intelligent team, with good players, if they stay together they will certainly come up again.”
Arteta has been one of Arsenals’s best players in their fine run of late – in the nine games they have played since losing 2-1 at White Hart Lane on March 3rd, they have won seven and drawn two – so they are due a defeat.
And we remember the last time a good player missed playing at St. James’ Park recently – and that was when Luis Suarez was banned – and my arm just start to hurt. 😀
The truth is that our players owe the fans a top class performance against a top class team, and Sunday is a perfect opportunity to end a terrible season and go out with a win – and we could finish up around 12th place depending on the other results.
Sounds good to us.
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139 comments so far
Transfer Sage
May 15, 2013 at 9:21 AM
Comment #121tom68
Berbatov would have been great for us, his style was never about pace so should comfortable playing up to 36 without really slipping much.
Some teams have too many old heads and not enough younger/inexperienced lads but we have the opposite problem.
We have very little experience at the club and the bit that we do isn’t great…only colo has good experience really. Shola possibly but he offers so little on the pitch it’s more of a detriment to side to have him in I feel.
Transfer Sage
May 15, 2013 at 9:23 AM
Comment #122one tony
I cant remember who it was…possibly ancellotti? or even mancini?
but they tried to get players in to train morning and night and they kicked up a right fuss.
in other sports like boxing, athletics, rowing, etc you get people who work 8 hour shifts every day and train 4-6 hours a day on top of that…that’s dedication.
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
May 15, 2013 at 9:24 AM
Comment #123Rotonda…Wasn’t the target for this season top 8? Would seem a little foolish to underachieve as we have and then say, well next year we’re going to raise our targets.
Last summer, a key word, was consolidation. We haven’t, but that doesn’t mean that work is being given up.
5th to some extent was a fluke, as we all know. If Chelsea had done what they normally do, we would have been 6th. Top 8 is probably a reasonable target, would have been last year, was this year and should be next. Granted 8th doesn’t get you EL, but the key word is “top” 8, i.e aiming for EL.
Not even going to comment on the Mancini point, nor would I a Chelsea manager, they have their own way of going about things which I personally find ludicrous.
As for your last point, why should it matter what another fans feel about the game or how they decide to enjoy the club?
Transfer Sage
May 15, 2013 at 9:24 AM
Comment #124Ronaldo is one of the best players in the world and he got there by being first into training and staying so late he would be told to go home.
Santon03
May 15, 2013 at 9:24 AM
Comment #125my pick will be Tymoschuck, Joacquin, Demichelis
Markaccus
May 15, 2013 at 9:28 AM
Comment #126Morning all. Whats new today?
Rainrix
May 15, 2013 at 9:28 AM
Comment #127Sage…. Another one to add to the pardew out list 🙂
tom68
May 15, 2013 at 9:29 AM
Comment #128Surely these players should take it upon themselves to keep their fitness levels high and be in great physical condition. It seems to be an utter disgrace that the club and the individual players don’t act more professionally.
If Pardew stays or goes the whole coaching and background staff need overhauling
one Tony Green
May 15, 2013 at 9:29 AM
Comment #129TS I work with quite a few rugby clubs including the Welsh National team and they train twice a day.
As i said look at Germany both BM and BD steamrolled Barca and RM literally ran them into the ground. We lack pace , stamina , imagination and we have the uncanny knack of taking good players and making them crap
Santon03
May 15, 2013 at 9:29 AM
Comment #130http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/spieler/vertragsende/basics_ES1_2013.html
Primera liga out of contracts
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
May 15, 2013 at 9:29 AM
Comment #131Markaccus is back, let me find my book of insults…
one Tony Green
May 15, 2013 at 9:29 AM
Comment #132Too right Tom68
Indian Magpie
May 15, 2013 at 9:31 AM
Comment #133Santon03
if you are going for experience, at least pick good players
Demichellis
mindshaft
May 15, 2013 at 9:32 AM
Comment #134@TransferSage: I remember that although I can’t remember who it was, players pretty much went on strike – kin disgrace, amazing they train for an hour a day – no wonder they’re always getting cramp or muscle injuries – Cyclists are out in all weather 4-6 hours a day as are many other athletes for a fraction of the money!
Rotonda heights
May 15, 2013 at 9:35 AM
Comment #135Ibiza
because you’d like to think everyone wanted the best for the club they support and see if something wasn’t fit for purpose.
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
May 15, 2013 at 9:38 AM
Comment #136Rotonda…That would be lovely in an ideal world, but are you saying that how others view the club is going to have an impact on how you view the club?
HullMag6
May 15, 2013 at 10:00 AM
Comment #137Is back on the fence Pardew stay/Pardew go I really can’t decide at times. By earlier accounts it seems we have a too relaxed training regime our team need to act and behave like professional athletes so less booze and more application. If Pas de clue cant sort it out then regime change it should be 1 day off post match yes but then straight back at it.
If we did change manager if a deal could be done I would go for either Rafa, Mancini or Girard. 21st century management style needed fitness, discipline and technique led approach
saxonfenken
May 15, 2013 at 10:48 AM
Comment #138More sense to the blog today thank goodness, much more interesting debate, and for the record I have never been a great lover of Pardew before or after he came.
I just can not see the point of constantly changing managers. The team and new summer imports are his, so let give him next year to see what he can do with them.
Good to see Torq and Transfer, keeping a good sensible balance of debate.
Cisse's Big Toe
May 15, 2013 at 4:28 PM
Comment #139were linked with rooney LOL