As for the team news, we all expect Mikel Arteta to be out with injury but I am hoping Arsene is pulling a fast one and Arteta will arrive to Newcastle in a blue and red suit donning a smart red cape. Flying into the Arsenal midfield to save the day from the evil Pardew, or something. If Arteta is really out then Aaron Ramsey will replace him as the deepest midfielder with Jack Wilshere replacing Ramsey in that box to box role if you catch my drift.

So here we have it guys and girls, everything we have been fighting for since our defensive balls up at White Hart Lane back on Sunday 3rd March, rests on 90 minutes at St James’ Park.

We have been here before, it was only 12 months ago when Arsene Wenger found himself nuzzling into the bosom of Pat Rice such was the enormous tension. I don’t see Steve Bould being as willing as Pat so Arsene may have to find his comforts some other way. Perhaps a restock of water bottles might be in order, hopefully we can just do it the easy way for a change and run into a three goal lead in half an hour while Cabaye and Coloccini hobble off with hamstring strains. But as we know being an Arsenal fan, it never quite works that way unfortunately. Although footballing gods, it may be worth considering throwing a spanner in the works and making today just a little different. Freshen it up and all that. I think people are bored of the whole, well you know, being really nervous for the whole entire match. I think everyone would enjoy a simple Arsenal convincing victory.

Newcastle United have conceded 9 goals in their last two home matches against Liverpool and Sunderland so you could be forgiven for dancing in your seat but they had only conceded two goals in four home games prior, some of those teams included the likes of Benfica and Anzhi Makhachkala. So let us not go into  the game expecting a cricket score, instead let us work to get said cricket score.

I’m not sure how much I buy the ‘they have nothing to play for’ card, to a group of competitive men a game of football is a game of football and they will want to beat us.

Arsene Wenger’s words in his recent press conference were spot on though, we have worked so hard to get to this position, we were not expected to claw these points back so now we have, let us go out there on Sunday and finish the job. I concur wholeheartedly. What would be the point of getting this far only to bottle it when it really mattered.

As for the team news, we all expect Mikel Arteta to be out with injury but I am hoping Arsene is pulling a fast one and Arteta will arrive to Newcastle in a blue and red suit donning a smart red cape. Flying into the Arsenal midfield to save the day from the evil Pardew, or something.

If Arteta is really out then Aaron Ramsey will replace him as the deepest midfielder with Jack Wilshere replacing Ramsey in that box to box role if you catch my drift. It is very unlikely that Cazorla will be moved centrally with Podolski out on the left so scrub that out’cha mind.

We would certainly lose some of Arteta’s security or technical security as Arsene put it when he first signed the Spaniard from Everton, but assuming that Jack is fit enough to start then we would gain a bit more drive and mobility in his place. Yes I am trying to spin a positive out of it, sue me.

The only other real question will be who starts as centre forward seeing that Oliver Giroud is now back from suspension, it would have been a very easy decision before Tuesday but Podolski’s brace against Wigan may have forced the manager to rethink. That said I think the manager will go for a fully rested and fit Giroud, asking him to run like crazy from the first whistle. Lukas Podolski is more likely to make an impact from the bench rather than the other way round.

I assume that the rest of the team will stay the same and look something like this.

Mean Lean’s Predicted Line up:

Another quick goal from Theo Walcott wouldn’t go a miss, in fact I’d be quite grateful if we scored from kick off as we did against QPR. I’ll be your best friend if you do! But while we are at it, can we fire in a few more before half time whilst keeping a clean sheet? Maybe I am asking too much but I hope Newcastle can play a nice open game against us, especially as they have nothing to play for but pride. It looks as if they wanted to play an open game against Liverpool and this happened.

If they played such a tasty high line without pressure on the ball then Santi and Theo would eat them for breakfast, unfortunately I don’t see Newcastle behaving like that again. The excellent Arsenal Letters who writes match previews on 7am Kick off said that Newcastle played deep in their last two games which is a shame.

At the moment I couldn’t care less about the Chelsea game, if we are lucky to cross that bridge later then fantastic but it is all about us, it is all about how we close down Newcastle, how quickly we move the ball and remain calm yet committed.

Anyway, I am going round in circles now, not really talking coherently because I am seriously pooping my pants. So I guess I shall see you on the other side.

Come on Arsenal FC, one massive 90 minutes. We can do this.

Oh and Sunderland players, if you want that holiday then just stop Bale and park the bus. I always liked you, well since Tuesday anyway.