Newcastle's Given on bench

Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given has been told that he will stay on the bench. An injury to the Ireland keeper brought in Steve Harper, who has since retained his place in the Premiership. Given has only played twice this year, in the Carling Cup.

"I chose Shay on Tuesday, but in reverse I would have picked Steven Harper for the Arsenal game if Shay had been playing regularly in the Premiership," said Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce.

When you have got two outstanding goalkeepers the hardest part of the job is keeping one happy when one is not playing and the other one is in the team.

"That is the hardest part of management, but to have two such outstanding keepers is also comforting.

"Will Shay be happy on the bench? He cannot be. Impossible. Steve Harper is slightly better at it, but it is not about making a decision based on who will create more problems for me.

"It is all about what you think is the right thing, or the right goalkeeper, for that particular time."