Relegation threathened Newcastle go to London

There's another reunion this weekend with former Arsenal player Remi Garde hosting the London club as manager of Aston Villa tomorrow.

While Villa are in last place, Arsenal are two points from the top in second and looking forward to the round of 16 in the Champions League after turning around a faltering campaign.

Garde won the league with Arsenal in 1998 during his three years with the club at the start of Arsene Wenger's reign.

"It is a long time ago since I was there. Probably everything has changed there except one," Garde said, referring to Wenger. "They can win the title of course. Now they are qualified for the (knockout stage of the) Champions League they will have to concentrate on both targets which is not easy. Maybe it is the year they can fight for the title until the end."

Newcastle manager Steve McClaren seemed to avert the immediate danger to his job when he masterminded a 2-0 victory over Liverpool last weekend. However, the northeast club remains in the relegation zone ahead of tomorrow's game at Tottenham.

"We need to perform well, that's key thing," McClaren said. "Never mind thinking about the result, we need to put a performance in at White Hart Lane to stand a chance of getting anything there."