NEWCASTLE United keeper Shay Given joked that he could do with a helping hand between the sticks when Arsenal's big guns roll up at St. James' Park this evening.

Given is bracing himself for a fusillade from Arsene Wenger's side following their spectacular Champions' League performance against Bayer Leverkusen this week.

The Republic of Ireland international is acutely aware that Arsenal are unbeaten on the road this season and have scored in every away match.

"I think we could do with two goalkeepers against them," confessed the World Cup star, who withstood a peppering when Newcastle pulled off one of the results of the season with a 3-1 win at Highbury in December.

"Their performance in the first 20 minutes of that game was the best we have faced this season,'' said Given.

"It was like the Alamo at Highbury - like the Red Arrows coming at us. We couldn't get near them, and the only kicks we had were goal-kicks! It was the same in midweek - they scored four against Leverkusen and it could have been seven or eight. They are a great team - arguably the best attacking team in the country. Their pace going forward is awesome.

"But we weathered the storm at Arsenal and won the match, and we have to take confidence from that and try to repeat it.

"It's not going to be easy, but we are playing well and we are determined to be still challenging at the top after Saturday's game and next Wednesday's visit to Liverpool.

"It's lovely because every game is huge at the moment and that's what every player wants.

"Bobby Robson keeps the lid on it and nothing seems to faze him, and that rubs off on the players. There is a real buzz about the place and we are confident we can get something every time we play."

Given believes that opposite number David Seaman is England's best bet. "He's the man you'll have to shift because he has been great down the years, and if he's fit it would be hard not to pick him for the World Cup," he said.

But Given is regarded by many as the best in the Premiership and he pulled off one of the saves of the season to deny Kevin Phillips in last weekend's derby win at Sunderland.

Given, 25, is certainly the man in form and his recent displays have helped reinforce his side's unlikely title bid - with Newcastle poised to go back to the top of the table if they record their seventh straight win.

Yet 14 months ago he slapped in a shock transfer request after briefly losing his place to deputy Steve Harper. Given recalled: "I had my angry head on because I only missed one game and four days' training through injury and I thought I should have come back into the team. Looking back it was a mistake, but at the time I felt it was right. Now I'm delighted the club didn't let me leave because things have taken off this season.

"Nobody expects you to go from mid-table to the Champions' League and our aim has always been just to get into Europe. Anything else is a bonus."

This evening's game is a dress-rehearsal for the sides' FA Cup quarter-final on Tyneside in a week's time.

Newcastle coach John Carver is naturally impressed by Arsenal's away form, but said: "Records are there to be broken and we are going to break this one, I am confident of that."

Manager Robson is likely to call up England Under-21 striker Shola Ameobi to replace Craig Bellamy, who will be out for "several weeks" after tearing tendons in his right knee.

Ameobi is expected to get the nod ahead of £7m Carl Cort, in the squad for the first time after a nine-month injury lay-off, and Republic of Congo front-runner Lomana LuaLua.

"Whoever comes in will be dying to do a job for the team," said Carver. "Craig is obviously going to be a big miss - it's like taking Michael Owen out of Liverpool's team or Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink out of Chelsea.

"But I don't think we'll be weaker without him, just different. Cort has the experience at top level, Lomana has pace, and Shola is scoring goals for the Under-21s. He was playing for our youth team 18 months ago but he's a lot stronger now and I remember David O'Leary saying last season how difficult he was to handle."

Midfielder Jermaine Jenas is set for his first home start following his £5m move from Nottingham Forest last month, while Kieron Dyer is likely to make his comeback from a foot stress fracture against his former club Ipswich at St. James' a fortnight today.

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