BRUCE RIOCH will warn his Arsenal team to beware another episode of the Newcastle late show at Highbury tonight (ITV, 8.0). Newcastle's last-gasp FA Cup reprieve at Chelsea on Sunday made a deep impression on the Highbury manager.
Rioch will guard against a repeat of Newcastle's great escape by hammering home a favourite football message - play to the final whistle. "Newcastle persevered and Les Ferdinand was alert and sharp enough to take the chance when it came at Stamford Bridge," said Rioch. "I will tell my players to concentrate right up until the final whistle."
Victory in a fascinating League Cup quarter-final is essential to revive Arsenal's flagging season. Talk of the title has been hushed at Highbury with the off-target Gunners floundering 14 points behind Premiership pacemakers Newcastle as they failed to cope with selection problems.
"We lost continuity in the team when Steve Bould, Tony Adams, David Platt, Dennis Bergkamp, Ian Wright and Ray Parlour were all out over the last three or four weeks," said Rioch. "As a manager there's not a lot you can do about it.
David Ginola's sure-footed inspiration has been a major influence behind Newcastle's surge and he insists he has no regrets about rejecting Arsenal transfer overtures. The French international is a firm favourite with Newcastle fans.
Yet, Arsenal came close to snatching Ginola from under manager Kevin Keegan's nose just 24 hours before he finalised a £2.5 million August deal with Paris St Germain. Highbury vice-chairman David Dein spent over an hour on the telephone trying to change Ginola's mind after tracking him down to an Amsterdam hotel.
"He kept saying Arsenal would be good for me," says Ginola. "We talked for some time but wasn't going to change my mind. I told him I was going to sign for Newcastle next day and he wished me good luck. With the way things have gone I am delighted I joined Newcastle."
Newcastle have spent the week in a south coast hotel to recuperate from Sunday's efforts. Keegan will have reflected on how best to restore Newcastle's balance against an Arsenal team with Platt restored, Bergkamp and Bould facing late fitness checks and Ian Wright relieved by the postponement today of an FA disciplinary hearing. Wright's offence was allegedly referring to, referees as "little Hitlers".
Wolverhampton manager Mark McGhee prepared his side for their second Black Country Cup derby in four days by declaring his team believe they will be celebrating a semi-final spot.
While he is forced to make three changes from the side which drew 1-1 at Birmingham on Saturday, the manager said that a mood of quiet confidence under-pinned his side's approach.
The three men missing for McGhee are Neil Emblen, whose facial injury against Birmingham the manager deemed as a major factor in his team's inability to hold onto their lead, Cup-tied Simon Osborn, and Mark Williams, who has flown out to represent South Africa in the African Nations' Cup. Mark Rankine, Darren Ferguson and Tony Daley seem likely to come in, but McGhee is not overly concerned.
By contrast, Villa's injury problems are clearing up, with Paul McGrath and Ian Taylor both in line to return after injury. McGrath, out for two matches with a groin injury, will replace England under-21 man Riccardo Scimeca, while Taylor, who has also missed the last two games, could come in for Tommy
While the passion and excitement certain at Villa Park may not be matched at Elland Road or Carrow Road, Wembley is equally close for the four sides on duty there, although Birmingham and Reading defenders will be making acquaintance with goalkeepers for the first time.
Barry Fry returned to former club Southend yesterday to pick up Paul Sansome on loan, while Tranmere's Eric Nixon joined Reading on a similar, one-month deal.
Sansome seems certain To play against Norwich, with Ian Bennett and stand-in Bart Griemink both injured, while with new signing Nicky Hammond Cup-tied, Simon Sheppard out with a broken arm, and Bulgarian Bobby Mihaylov struggling with a thigh injury. Nixon could also be drafted in.
Fry has injury doubts over Paul Tait, Mark Ward, Jason Bowen, Steve Castle and Michael Johnson, although Kevin Francis will play despite having six stitches in a head wound on Saturday.
Norwich manager Gary Megson, still awaiting his first win in two spells in charge of the club, made his players sit through a video of their FA Cup defeat by Brentford. Megson has the option of bringing in Mike Milligan or Jan Molby if Jeremy Goss is ruled out.
Leeds, without Tony Yeboah - already in South Africa - and the suspended Brian Deane, will have Swede Tomas Brolin up front, with Rod Wallace, Phil Masinga and teenager Ian Harte vying to partner him.
Richard Jobson is cup-tied, but Reading could have a central defender, Pole Dariusz Wdowcyk, back after a hamstring injury, while Kenny Brown will have a fitness test on his hamstring.
