Jonas Gutierrez has come out today and said that 23 year-old Hatem Ben Arfa is a fantastic person.

Ben Arfa – out for at least 6 months

Jonas made his remarks today as he told the Shields Gazette  there was not much the rest of the Newcastle players can do for Hatem – other than to win the game tomorrow.

This is what Jonas said:

“Hatem’s a fantastic person, and we’re really sad to lose him – it’s a long time,””We can’t do anything. We can just try to win the game for Hatem, and hope he has a good recovery. That’s the most important thing now.”

Gutierrez did score his first goal of the season for Newcastle at Manchester City, and it was a terrific goal too – but unfortunately no Spiderman mask was produced.

Newcastle have a chance to get their first league win tomorrow since the Everton game, and also break a two game losing streak  against Wigan.

Gutierrez has admitted that  Newcastle were just not good enough in their last two home defeats against Blackpool and Stoke, as he continued:

“We know how important this game is for us – we have to take the three points at St James’s Park,”    “We have to be focused in this game, and take the three points. We had a lot of positive things to take from the Manchester City game.”

“We were unhappy with the result, but that’s football.””Those are the type of games we can’t lose – Blackpool at Stoke.” “That was a big mistake – to lose the six points.”

And the Argentine has drawn inspiration, like lots of people all around the world,  from the fantastic rescue of the 33 Chilean miners, after they had spent 69 days trapped a half a mile underground.

Jonas continued:

“They are all in good condition, so that is really, really good,”  “When you see those things, you really have to appreciate the life that you have.””Bad things can happen in any part of the world. You have to appreciate and your enjoy your life.”

News is coming through that the miners were able to watch some  football while they were trapped,  and have apparently been offered Manchester United tickets, by Sir Bobby Charlton.

A Manchester United spokesman confirmed today:

“The club will do whatever we can to welcome them and arrange to meet the players.”

And it also turns out that Real Madrid President Florentino Perez has already sent 33 signed Real shirts to the miners, each printed with the words “Have strength, miners.”

Perez said today:

“Real Madrid wants not only to invite them to whatever match they choose at the Santiago Bernabeu, but also to offer them a tribute, our affection and the recognition from our fans they deserve,” “For us it will be an honor to be able to receive them to celebrate their triumph of life.”

Perez has also sent a book with photographs of the famous Real Madrid players signing each shirt, and a signed invitation to the Bernabeu.  It’s always nice to report some good news for a change – which is why we are mentioning this – rather than the usual depressing stuff we see in the news every single day.

Make no mistake about it – the rescue of the Chilean miners is a tremendous triumph of the human spirit.

We have to hope our boys can show that same spirit against Wigan tomorrow afternoon, because if they can – the 3 points will be ours, and it will be even more good news – at least for Newcastle fans. 😀

Comments welcome.