FA Cup brings welcome relief

“HE’S gonna quit in a minute” was the somewhat predictable chant which echoed around our stadium on Saturday, as we begun to relax and enjoy our second-half domination of a relatively toothless Toon Army.

There were moments during the first 45 when Newcastle threatened and if Gael Clichy hadn’t been perfectly placed to head clear Alan Smith’s goal-bound effort, perhaps it would’ve been an entirely different story.

However much to every Gooners’ great relief, by and large this match ran true to form, as apparently Arsène Wenger appreciated the need to send out a team that was capable of demonstrating that the midweek debacle at White Hart Lane was nothing more than an aberration.