GRAEME SOUNESS:

"It was a good performance from us, but we have nothing to show from a game we should have won.

"We won the midfield battle and showed great fight and spirit, but if there was one criticism it was that we weren't accurate enough in the final third.

"After the run of results we have had we have been on the back foot, but against Arsenal we showed a real determination.

"We had a load of possession and did well in patches, but we came away with nothing. I just need the players to show me that determination and fight in the games coming up and I'm confident it will turn for us.

"The players can take a lot from that game, and hopefully take it into the two important games we have coming up against Birmingham and West Bromwich Albion."

STEPHEN TAYLOR:

"I thought we played very well, it was a great team performance. We were very unlucky not to come away with any points.

"They scored in the last few seconds of the first half, and from our point of view that was disappointing.

"But it was a good stepping stone, and things can only get better.

"Hopefully we can start picking up points on Saturday. There's no reason why we can't, just look at the players we've got in our squad.

"To keep my place and play against the players out there, like Thierry Henry and Robert Pires, was unbelieveable. I enjoyed it.

"I didn't want Pires to think he had an easy game, and I put my foot in. There was more banter than anything with Thierry Henry. He was good to talk to.

"To play against him was an honour for me, it was unbelieveable. It can only boost my confidence.

"It wasn't just the defence that did well though, the midfield and attack all did well.

"Patrick Viera scored a deflected goal, and we were disappointed with that.

"They were on the back foot and you could see their reaction at the end, the celebrated like they'd won the FA Cup. It's given us a boost for Saturday.

"The fans were unbelieveable.

"They were great at half time. They gave us a standing ovation when we left the pitch. After the game they were fantastic even though we lost."

OLIVIER BERNARD:

"I think we saw the real Newcastle United.

"We played very well and I thought we deserved more than a defeat.

"So obviously we are disappointed at the result but happy at the performance and to tell the truth I enjoyed the game.

"It's always a vital game for me because Arsenal not only have a lot of my fellow-countrymen in their side but their manager is obviously also French.

"But really I always give 100 per cent no matter who we play regardless of whether it is Arsenal or not.

"I would loved to have scored against them again but the biggest disappointment was that we got nothing out of the game."

SHOLA AMEOBI:

"We are devastated, because we caused them problems all night, we battled at them and fought for everything and we've come away from the game with nothing to show for it.

"People were saying we would get hammered and predicting daft scores and stuff like that, but we know we are a hard team to beat when we are playing well.

"We put a lot of effort into the game, but we didn't get the points we wanted and that's a shame.

"I feel as though I'm getting better and stronger with the more games I'm getting under my belt, and I felt I did a reasonable enough job against Arsenal.

"We put their defence under a lot of pressure, but it just wouldn't go for us.

"I had a chance in the first half when Shay's kick bounced, but I just turned Campbell and hit it without looking up and the keeper saved it. The referee gave a goal kick but he definitely made the save.

"Other than that we had a few half chances and put a lot of balls into the box, but they stood firm.

"It just wasn't our night, but our luck has to change soon. When it's not going for you, you tend to get key moments going against you and when you look at the deflected goal from Vieira seconds before half time that was the case."