1. IF THEY PUT THEIR MINDS TO IT, ARSENAL CAN DEFEND

Joe Kinnear last night risked alienating the Newcastle fans further by claiming to have “more intelligence than them”.

ALEX FERGUSON wants to sign Frank Lampard, Chelsea’s disaffected midfield star.

SATURDAY

More than 80 people were arrested in New York in the latest demonstrations against corporate greed which sparked global protests.

Exeter 1 Liverpool 3

Arsenal and Newcastle have both been charged by the Football Association for failing to control their players during Saturday’s bad-tempered goalless draw at St James Park.

Newcastle 1 Everton 2

ROBERTO MARTINEZ last night revealed his plan to make Wigan the Arsenal of the north ahead of their Carling Cup quarter-final at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsene Wenger has called on Arsenal fans to “keep faith” in his vision as he looks to guide the young Gunners into the semi-finals of the Carling Cup.

Arsenal 0 Newcastle 1

WITH the looming prospect of dropping two costly points on Saturday, when Gael Clichy careered down the left flank in the 88th minute against the Hammers, I offered up a little prayer that our profligate French full-back might for once find a team-mate with a decent cross.

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway today welcomed the news the Tangerines will open their Barclays Premier League campaign at Bloomfield Road.

A UK-flagged tanker seized by Somali pirates has been released after a ransom was paid, it was announced today.

A cargo ship sailing under a British flag has been hijacked by Somali pirates.

PIRATES seized a British-flagged chemical tanker and a Panamanian-flagged carrier off Somalia’s coast and were holding 45 crew members yesterday, a maritime official has said.

“No direct contact” has been made with a UK-flagged tanker attacked by Somali pirates since it was seized, the ship’s managers said today.

DAMIEN DUFF admits it was an easy decision to swap the chaos at Newcastle for the stability offered by Fulham.

MANCHESTER UNITED were last night believed to be holding initial talks with Michael Owen’s representatives which, they hope, is the first step in a sensational swoop for the former Liverpool striker.

The focus has moved to the bottom of the Premier League table where Middlesbrough, Hull and Newcastle were all fighting for their lives.

IT will be some match at St James Park tonight, not necessarily in terms of its prettiness or the quality of the football but because of the significance of the outcome.

GEESE were in the news recently for all the wrong reasons; the airliner that came down in the Hudson River flew into a flock of them.

Joe Kinnear was awaiting answers from two transfer window targets after Newcastle launched a joint £8m swoop.

Wigan manager Steve Bruce believes referees should have access to television replays to prevent mistakes, particularly ones which have a knock-on effect in disciplinary terms with no right of appeal.

SAM ALLARDYCE has emerged as the favourite to become Portsmouth’s new manager after Harry Redknapp’s sudden departure on Saturday night.

AS distractions go, a rare win over United was a blessing to some and a curse to others.

ARSENE Wenger is concerned with the diminishing role of managers following the influx of foreign owners into the Premier League — but maintained he would never work under such conditions at Arsenal.

Petr Cech believes Chelsea are stronger now than when they were crowned Premier League champions two years ago.

Liverpool 3 Newcastle 0

FORMER Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier — widely tipped for the vacant Ireland manager’s job last night reaffirmed his commitment to the France Football Federation after he was linked with the vacant Newcastle manager’s job.

Hermann Hreidarsson is hopeful of returning to Portsmouth’s defence for the home clash with Manchester City but midfielder Papa Bouba Diop serves a one-match ban for five yellow cards.

Troubled rock star Pete Doherty showed off his footballing skills today as part of the Celebrity Soccer Six tournament - and was cheered on by his number one fan, Kate Moss.

THE small town of Vail, Colorado, is an unlikely place to find one of the key figures in world sport.

RAFAEL BENITEZ accepts that life will be easier for him in the transfer market under Liverpool’s new American owners.

Rafael Benitez accepts that life will be easier for him in the transfer market under Liverpool’s new American owners.

Liverpool will have captain Steven Gerrard in the squad for the match with Newcastle after he played just 45 minutes for England in midweek due to a “niggling” injury picked up last weekend in the Merseyside derby against Everton.

Newcastle 3 Wigan 1

Newcastle 1 Arsenal 0

Newcastle 3 Sunderland 2

Kieron Dyer is poised to make his first appearance in more than a month for Newcastle at Portsmouth having been sidelined with back and groin injuries.

Ruud van Nistelrooy completed Newcastle’s misery with an injury-time strike and then dedicated it to their former manager Sir Bobby Robson.

Newcastle outcast Craig Bellamy has turned down a move to Birmingham, according to his agent but the Blues are still trying to secure a loan deal.