Written by Lindsay Melrose Wednesday, 27 October 2010 22:10

GunnerTalk Blog

By Lindsay Sheehan

I've got to say I have a lot of respect for this Newcastle United side. When they were relegated I thought that the team were a bunch of over rated has-beens and nearly-ares who would each negotiate a transfer back to the lower half of the Prem quicker than the Manure players have jumped on the recent Shrek inspired pay-rise bonanza bandwagon. But they didn't. They didn't even agitate. The ones that wanted to fuck off did quickly and the rest just got their heads down and played their way straight back up. No hype, no chatting bollox just good old fashioned hard work and team spirit. Fairly refreshing in the modern era sullied by the likes of Cashley, Rooney and Adebaywhore.  Ok no one was going to be offering those remaining £250 grand a week anyway but their quiet determination impressed me. There are 2 sticking points in my admiration, both off the pitch. One is they are managed by ex-Spud Chris Houghton. Secondly they are owned by that fat, beer gulping, replica shirt wearing ‘I’m one of the fans’ plastic Geordie who really lives in Totteridge and supports the Scum. But we’ll bypass this eh? 

Onto us and we seemed to universally agree that this year the Carling Cup is to be taken seriously. Fans, board and Wenger all united in the belief that it's a stepping stone to greater success plus it could finally create that 'winning mentality' that we are all sick to death of hearing about. I think of it like this, it's like going out on a date with the uglier, stupider, shorter girl in order to practice your moves until you are ready to pull her better looking, bigger-chested sister. Or something. Anyway you get what I mean 

The feel good factor was as high as one of Wagner X Factors’ special cigarettes due to the 1-4 drubbing of Spurs (grin) still being at the forefront of our minds. It started lively with Smith having a bit of afters just out of the Sky camera view and a couple of minutes later unleashing a shot that Szczesny did stunningly well to finger-tip onto the bar to a resounding THWACK.  Now the young Pole has recently been a bit moany about his position in the goalkeeping pecking order at Arsenal so tonight was his first chance to really pop his dosh where his cake hole is. And did he! I counted 5 top draw saves along with a decent punch and some masterful vocal marshalling of our defence.  End of Almunia in favour of the Poles you have to think although it’s still very early days.

To be fair Newcastle played with heart and desire even at 2-0 down but our defence held fast to another clean sheet and made many solid interceptions and tackles all in all. No shirking of challenges went on by either side actually with almost 100% being tough or hard rather than being Stoke or Wolves.  However, in a tough week for candidates for most loathed footballer, Joey Barton stole a notch back off Rooney with a knee in the back of Eastmond’s hamstring and a heavy barge on Jesus. As we clearly told him united as a stadium previously, he really is Scum.  But not dangerous like Shawcross/De Jong/Henry/Taylor etc so I dunno, not evil, just scum?

Our first two goals were not without drama. A great header into the box by Nic saw us gain a comedy lead just before half time. The ball was cleared by Taylor off the line only to have it ping pong back into his own net off their goalie’s (Krul) head. Queue a number of cheesy puns. (Krul Luck,! How Krul? Krul to be Kind for Arsenal. Don’t be Krul! Krul twist of fate! Etc etc).  The second goal was all Theo and his footballing brain but it was Nicolas Bentdner whom the spotlight shone upon. As he ran back from an offside position he took one of their defenders, Mike Williamsom, out of the equation. Williamson would have been only eating Theo’s dust anyway but cheeky and cynical it was by the Big Dane.

Houghton threw on Carroll and Gutierrez whom he had presumably saved to the bench with one eye on the weekends North East Derby and we bought on Captain Marvel.  Newcastle pressed, had good possession and territorial advantage, until, at half nine, Nicolas showed he has skill to go with his subterfuge and buried beautifully a cutting pass from Cesc to finish the game as a contest. The fourth was another calm one-on-one finish by Theo when the impressive Englishman capitalised on a high Newcastle line and shot clinically. The absolutely fantastic away support was sent home with deserved rewards for braving the shit Northern weather on a dark Wednesday evening. 

So another night when a few rye smiles may rise amongst the Gooner community. Are Arsenal Lite becoming a bit darker? A little more like the tough yet sometimes shady Invincible team? Fuck the moral high ground I quite like it. Lets get down and dirty. The draw for the next round is Saturday lunchtime and then we are at home to fellow Carling Cup Wednesday night victors, West Ham. The pressure seems to be off and yet desire has definitely kicked in. Bets we draw Man Utd or Stoke away?