10 Darkest Days In Alan Pardew's Newcastle United Career

6. Arsenal 7-3 Newcastle

Date: 29th December 2012 How to capitulate like experts. This loss was the perfect portrait of the two sides of Alan Pardew's Newcastle: over-achievemet to hold Arsenal to 3-3 and compete blow for blow, and then spectacular, embarrassing implosion. Even in the season we came fifth, both sides reared their head, and it was always only a matter of time before the over-achievement made way for disappointment. This result came at a key time in the season, with Newcastle in 15th place, and defeat left Pardew looking over his shoulder at Southampton in 18th, who were just 3 points behind with a game in hand. Things were looking bad already, but it was the way the side rolled over that proved Pardew's issue with motivating his team.