First-footers Newcastle made it the happiest of new years as they piled up six of the best - victories that is - having gone into the lion's den at Manchester United and Spurs within five days and emerged both times with the spoils of war.

United not so long ago were easybeats once over the Tyne Bridge but no longer. We've started 2025 as we ended 2024 standing on the victor's rostrum thanks to Alexander Isak scoring the winning goal to defeat Tottenham by exactly the same 2-1 scoreline both up here and now down in north London.

Newcastle repeated the rope-a-dope trick that was successful at Old Trafford slicing them to bits in a rampant first-half while scoring two goals and then keeping it tight through game management to protect three points. All this on my birthday. What a nice pressie!

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Now United go back to where they have just been, London's northern territory, on Tuesday to do Carabao Cup battle against Arsenal travelling with a warm feeling and soaring confidence.

However let me state right here and now that the Gunners are a different class to both Man U and Spurs - historically huge clubs but a shell of their former glory while Arsenal are bidding for silverware on all fronts. Our hosts will be looking to bring a significant goal advantage to SJP for the second leg of a double semi-final clash especially as Bruno Guimaraes and Fabian Schar are both suspended and unable to stiffen resistance.

However United have already beaten the Gunners up here this season and are buzzing so one more Herculean effort on the road and the rest of the season will open up to glorious sunshine.

United allowed Tottenham a goal start and still gave them a smacking. And don't give me the hard luck story of injuries and illness ruining a wonderful home side. I can't remember any sympathy from cockerel fans when we went to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last season exhausted and depleted of several players such as Pope, Burn, Tonali, Longstaff, Botman and Wilson. We lost 4-1 and had to take our medicine.

Anyway Spurs keeper Brandon Austin far from being a weakness was named man of the match (despite United winning) and big hitters Son and James Maddison were thrown on early second-half without providing an equaliser. Plenty of huff and puff but very few clear cut chances to worry Martin Dubravka.

Sven Botman, playing his first game since last March, got off to an inglorious start after only four minutes when England striker Dominic Solanke dived in on his blind side to head Spurs ahead from a Pedro Porro cross. That could have heralded to huge dip in confidence but instead a player of quality got his head up and performed majestically until forced off during a mammoth 10 added minutes. Thankfully it was only cramp, which is to be expected after such a long lay off, and he should be available to play his part at Arsenal along with Anthony Gordon whose nose spurted blood from a flying arm just before he was subbed.

Gordon had equalised in the sixth minute of a whirlwind start - we said it would never be a 0-0 - before Isak sniffed the winner on 37th minute, his 14th goal of a ravenous season and his seventh in successive PL matches.

By the way with the transfer window opening again on New Year's Day has Jacob Murphy decided to show his ability as both a maker and taker of goals? It has been said that United's priority is an outside-right but with that position at the top of Eddie Howe's shopping list and Miggy Almiron sitting on his shoulder Murphy has become a consistent performer at the late age of 29. Here he set up Isak's winner for his seventh PL assist with the season only halfway through.

I still want us to buy but well done Jacob. You are more than contributing to the cause and are an invaluable member of the squad.

There were a lot of other good performances elsewhere . . . Tino Livramento was as sleek as a gleaming sports car, Bruno and Sandro Tonali showed all the nous and class of established internationals, and Gordon was a workaholic both with and without the ball.

Let me also pay lip service to Dubravka. His Newcastle time is coming to a rapid end after years of sterling service amid talk he is off to Saudi after the Arsenal match with his contract up at the end of the season but he has come into the team and performed with reassurance which has spread to his back four.

Last season he became iffy when standing in for Nick Pope but so far this run, admittedly with his toughest test coming at Arsenal on Tuesday, he has earned both his coin and his opportunity. No wonder Howe is grateful. We all ought to be not just for his current contribution but for all he has done over many a season.

United of course could lose but yet not lose at the Emirates because there will still be a Carabao Cup semi-final second leg to come. The trick is, come what may, still to be in the tie going into the return match. Be in with a genuine chance of overall victory. A draw or win would be magnificent but if the worst comes to the worst be no more than a goal down when the SJP return looms.