Leave him out Arsene, for the sake of everyone!

Well, if you believe all that’s written in the Sunday rags this morning, Robin van Persie is set for his return today. Whether that means he has a ticket to watch the game or he’ll actually be on the bench I haven’t a clue, your guess is as good as mine. Suggestion is he has taken part in only one full training session but Wenger believes he is ready to play.

Personally, I think it’s stupid, if we play him too soon he’ll be out again. It’s too bigger risk to take and will only open the door for him to play in the international game. If Wenger is playing him early because he thinks we lack something up front, then he should rectify that in January, not take a risk on an injury prone player before he’s fully fit!

After the mid-week fiasco in the Ukraine, Audrey Arshavin, Cesc Fabregas, Alex Song and Denilson all return to the squad fit and ready for selection. Diaby remains injured with what now looks to be a long-term absence but Thomas Vermaelen and Aaron Ramsey are back in training. Kieran Gibbs and Frimpong remain on the side lines as does Manuel Almunia.

It’s a tough call today for Arsene Wenger, who to start with and who leave on the bench but that’s his job and he gets paid a lot of money to do that!!

This man has to be one of the first on the team-sheet though

So what about the opposition today, it’s not too long ago when we travelled to St James Park and walked away comfortable winners but on that day Chris Houghton kept a few of his ‘big guns’ on the bench. There is little chance of that happening today in my opinion. There is little doubt that the in form, man of the moment Andy Carroll will be in the side from the off and he’s the man to stop! Another one to watch is Shola Ameobi and we cannot forget Kevin Nolan.

Last weekend, Newcastle played a strong Sunderland side at home, they absolutely thrashed them, 5-1 so this afternoon will be tough. Admittedly, Sunderland were playing with tem men for nearly all the second half but they were already 3-0 to the good before that and the result will have given Newcastle great confidence and belief.

On to us, last weekend we were off form and scraped three points against a West Ham side which sits at the bottom of the table, they can’t buy a win right now but last Saturday they fought tooth and nail to get a draw, only to be denied at the death by Alex Song.
If we play like that again today, I can’t see us being so fortunate against a side that has goals in it all over the pitch.

We followed the dire performance on Saturday with another dire performance on Wednesday, in fact it was worse..

Enough of that though, today we need to get our performance and attitude right back on track. Start the game as we mean to go on and no letting up either. Today there is no room for complacency, arrogance or sloppiness. Yes, Newcastle may be one of the clubs that got promoted last season but they won’t want to be relegated again either, they want to stay in this league and will fight for ninety minutes today in attempt to get three points to help them on their way. Whoever Wenger selects today needs to realise that!!

My money is on a home win and a red card for Joey Barton, he was lucky to stay on the pitch in the Carling Cup game and he wasn’t on the pitch for long, today I see him chipping away at both Cesc and Jack if they play..

Just hope it’s a strong vigilant referee today, I think we are going to need it…