Emmanuel Adebayor: Give Him the Ball and He Will Score

I'm not sure if the crowd were chanting the line above (as I watched the game in a nuclear sub with a couple of mates with the commentary off) but they well might have.

What a super striker Emmanuel Adebayor is turning out to be for us!

He scored two of the three goals in yesterday's fourth-round FA Cup game against the Toon at the Grove.

He has now scored five of our last seven goals in the last three games. That really is quite a phenomenal return.

And he was quite the part yesterday, taking the responsibility and finishing with aplomb. The second goal had shades of selfishness, but as the Arsetard remarked, "It's all okay as long as he finished."

Adebayor has taken over the main striker's role in the absence of Robin Van Persie. Just imagine the forward line Arsenal will have when RVP does return to partner Ade!

Onto the game itself—it was quite a dull first half, nothing really of note. Arsenal had the bulk of the possession, but didn't nearly do enough with it, and barring one goal line clearance by Clichy, they hardly looked dangerous.

The only thing worth mentioning is that Rosicky left the pitch early in the first, and that the only downside yesterday. Hopefully it's nothing serious, as the injuries are mounting for the Gunners.

Theo partnered Ade upfront, while Hoyte started on the right side, with Diaby playing in midfield while Hleb sat on the bench—oh, and Mad Jens was between the posts in this one, and those was the only changes from the first team.

The second half was a lot better, as you can see in the full report.  Arsenal did not have much penetration going forward in the first, though you got the feeling that once they scored one, the game would open up a little—and that's exactly how it was.

Once Adebayor scored his first goal, the midfield opened up and the passing game came back. What a joy it was to see the interplay—it had taken a bit of a hiatus, you would have to say.

Newcastle had very little to offer as far as a goal-scoring threat was concerned, and Jens had a very easy outing.

Theo was very much on the fringes yesterday, Eduardo proved when he came on for Rosicky that he can not only finish, but can turn provider as well. Diaby looked quite decent, while Gilberto looks like a shadow of the player that led the Gunners last season. The midfield found their rhythm once more and that really is integral to the team's successes.

In the beginning of the season, it was the midfield that was shouldering much of the goal-scoring burden—but the strikers are stepping up to the plate now that the midfield goals are drying up. It was a satisfying win and one that should give Arsenal plenty of confidence going in the Premier League game against the Geordies on Tuesday.

In other news, there's an update on the Toure injury, and it looks like it's not as bad as feared earlier. He will play for The Ivory Coast in their next game. That really is a relief! Hope he doesn't get injured in that one, though!

Right-o, I must be off now—first for some Sunday lunch, and then the Arsetard and I are going to have a bit of a gander at the TATA Tea Arsenal kids thing at the Football ground.

Will come back with pictures for tomorrow's piece, if it's indeed worthwhile.

So long!