Wednesday 26th September
Nothing much has happened over the last 3 days since our last competitive match against Villa on Sunday but something great happened yesterday. We beat Villa 4-2 on Sunday as you know but yesterday there as an early Carling Cup 3rd round match and it was Aston Villa away at Manchester United, and Villa won it! 1-0 was the score and everyone was happy all over the country. My God, the worlds a merrier place now.
Hardest game of the season so far, was today in our League Cup 3rd round match. We had been drawn to play Arsenal at home. I sure could see us losing this one, but as great managers do, I didn't let the players know this. Everyone was a little optimistic before the game and hoping we could get a historic win of the Gunners but no-one beleived it was ever gonna happen. But there was a little percentage that thought it would happen, how they must of felt after 28 minutes I will never know as Arsenal took the lead. A Maxi Rodriquez free kick was lofted to the penalty spot where Gael Clichy superbly, I must say, headed it straight into the bottom half. Minutes later and Rosicky smashed the bar from about 30 yards. We were riding our luck. Half time couldn't come soon enough as I pretty much 'Bollocked' the team. They seemed a little startled and to be honest didn't start well with Bendtner hitting the post 2 minutes into the second half. Deservedly so, Arsenal went 2-0 up after 57 minutes with a superb goal. This time Clichy was the one with the assist as he put a sweet ball accross onto the edge of the bov where Bendtner put it straight away into the corner. 2-0 and I couldn't see a way back. I called over captain Radoi and told him "Make them play football, give them beleive. It is up to you" It seemed to work though as on the 64th minute mark we pulled one back. The man on fire Obafemi Martins again got onto a N'Zogbia pass and chipped the keeper from a near acute angle. The fans now beleived, and when they do, they act like a 12th man. We were playing mesmerising football now and 3 minutes later in the 67th minute we scored again! No-one could beleive it! Again Obafemi was the man who finished it although it was great football leading up to the goal with nearly everyone touching it before Milner crossed it in to the danger area where Martins took a deadly touch to take it round the keeper and to slot it home into an empty net. 2-2! The fans now were singing incredibly load. Anyway they restarted the game and we won the ball back straight away. We were now having fun knocking the ball around, but with confidence. in this move though, we took the lead! This times Martins was the supplier as he crossed the ball accross to Owen at the back post who banged it in from close range. From 2-0 down, to 3-2 up against Arsenal felt amazing and it only took 5 minutes! Then it was our turn to hit the post with Milner coming close until the final whistle went. 3-2! We had done it again, 9 wins on the trot now,or is it 8, either way I'm estatic at such an emphatic victory.
An amazing day it was but not only for our spectacular win but because in the 3rd round of the League Cup Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal had all been knocked out! We had a chance here! On to Martins who is just amazing at the moment and has now scored 14 goals in all competitions. Simply outstanding!
Newcastle 3 - 2 Arsenal
Martins 64,67
Owen 69
Given - 7
Geremi - 7
Enrique - 7
Radoi(c) - 7
Taylor - 7
Milner - 8
N'Zogbia - 8
Butt - 7
Emre - 7
Owen - 8
Martins - 9
Harper - Unused Sub
Smith - 6
Barton - 6
Beye - 7
Viduka - Unused Sub