How can I be lost for words when looking to summarise a game that provide ten goals? Shell shocked? The Newcastle players certainly looked it.

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For 70 minutes Newcastle looked every bit a match for Arsenal, the score was 3-3 and many supporters were wondering if Newcastle could end their abysmal run of away results. Twenty minutes later they were four goals behind and the home supporters were taunting the away support with "going down" - absolute capitulation. 7-3.

Tiredness? It certainly played a part. Arsenal were unable to facilitate a game on Boxing Day, against a team based only seven miles away, because of an underground rail strike so this was their first game in a week. Newcastle had to play at Old Trafford only a few days earlier. Injuries? Again, undeniably a factor with nine first team squad members missing. But I'm sick of these excuses - it is 241 days since Newcastle last won an away game in any competition and there are no excuses for that run.

The dire stats:

- Newcastle haven't won an away game in any competition for over 34 weeks, 16 matches.
- Tonight's seven goals were the most Newcastle have ever conceded in a Premier League game.
- Newcastle now have the worst away defensive record in the Premier League having conceded a staggering 25 goals in ten games.
- Newcastle have only two wins in their last 14 games.
- Eight defeats from the last 10 Premier League games.
- This is the worst start Newcastle have ever made to a Premier League season.

The problem

Having finished fifth above all expectations last season, Newcastle had a fantastic chance to build and progress. Instead the owner decided to reduce an already thin squad with more first team squad players leaving than arriving. No one can be surprised by the disastrous run of form when such a small playing squad is so heavily depleted by injury.

Alan Pardew's stance on this is confusing and contradictory, although it is important to remember that he always toes the company line whenever he talks about transfers. Two weeks ago he was bemoaning his summer business and claiming that one additional signing could have made all the difference. Ahead of the Arsenal game this week he was saying how NUFC were only six points short of doing well with the squad they have. Which is it? A squad short of one player or a squad who would see 26 points from 20 games as 'good'? I know the answer to that and I'm sure you do too.

Pardew's tactics and substitutions throughout the season have been questionable too. He persisted with the long ball approach for a long, unsuccessful period before switching to an Ossie Ardiles style all out attacking game for Newcastle's visits to Old Trafford and the Emirates - two of England's toughest places to play. Perhaps Pardew felt that attacking was the only way to approach these games given how few defensive options he has at his disposal? If that is the case then how would one additional summer signing have made a big difference? Some would accuse him of persisting with certain players for too long. Take Jonas Gutierrez - I've defended Jonas here on ESPN a number of times but everyone could see that he needed a break from playing. Sylvain Marveaux came in to the team vs Wigan and was superb yet he was back out again as soon as Pardew's regulars were back available. Then injury ruled out Gutierrez, Marveaux returned to the side and put in another couple of excellent performances - why did it take an injury for this to happen?

And as for the set piece 'tactics' Pardew has persisted with all season... Well I won't get stuck into them again as I've done that too many times for it to be of any interest anymore.

Since Pardew arrived at Newcastle just over two years ago they have conceded 20 goals in the last five minutes of games. EIGHT already this season. Add that to the fact they've never come back from behind to win a game and you can see that Pardew's substitutions often go wrong.

I've been very impressed by the players’ spirit given the run that the team are going through. This shows that they are playing for their manager, but the rate at which the spirit evaporated when Arsenals fourth goal hit the net is a major concern. I've seen some terrible Newcastle teams in my time but that last twenty minutes was as poor a capitulation as ever before.

What now?

There are some positives, honest! A quick browse of Twitter immediately after the Arsenal game showed me an all-time high number of people asking whether Pardew's time should be up. I disagree. Why? For starters, Joe Kinnear is still fresh in my memory. If Ashley fired his chum tomorrow then goodness knows who he would bring in. I dread to think. Probably Alan Curbishley as he would tick the Ashley boxes. Not only that but whoever the new man would be would still have the same transfer policy to work with. If Ashley didn't want to invest in the team after what they achieved last season, he's not going to suddenly back a new man. Anyone calling for Laurent Blanc (I've seen more than one) are deluding themselves.

Newcastle and Alan Pardew have also had more than the fair share of bad luck. They played well at Stoke, Fulham, and Manchester United and for 70 minutes at Arsenal with a heavily depleted squad yet don't have anything to show for it - but the point is, they've played well. I'd be far more worried if they were playing very badly and losing these games. Add Yohan Cabaye, Hatem Ben Arfa and the rest to these performances and wins WILL come.

Let’s keep the faith and see what January brings. If nothing happens when the transfer window is open it is the owner who should face the questions, not the manager. Unless the teams performances become as bad as the recent results have been.

Saturday was embarrassing. The players should pay the travelling fans ticket costs for only playing for them for 70 minutes, but they need our support when Everton come to St James' in four days time.

Twitter: @MarcSDuffy

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