SIR BOBBY ROBSON revealed his lasting heartache last night at missing out on the chance to succeed George Graham as Arsenal manager.

As Robson prepared his Newcastle United team for their most important Premiership fixture of the season so far, against Arsenal tomorrow, the 69-year-old admitted he could easily have been in the visitors' dug-out at St James' Park.

Robson was FC Porto coach in 1995 when he accepted the Highbury post after Graham was sacked, only for his club to block his departure.

A year later, Robson was sacked by the Portuguese giants, and his decision to honour his contract and turn down Arsenal still rankles.

He said: "I was livid I couldn't take the Arsenal job. I was going to leave Porto, and was tempted to do so after what the chairman did, but I stuck to my contract.

"I'd signed a new contract with Porto on one condition: that if a bigger club than Porto came in for me, I'd be allowed to leave.

"But I made one mistake: I didn't get that in writing; I took the chairman's word.

"If I'd had it on paper, it wouldn't have changed because the wording of contracts don't change.

"But when it came to me trying to leave, he wouldn't let me go. I told him he'd promised me and he said, 'Things have changed and I can't let you leave.'

"I'd come to England and met the Arsenal board, and I'd agreed to go. But when I went back to Portugal, all hell broke loose.

"I didn't ask for permission to meet the board because I was under the assumption I was allowed to speak to Arsenal."

Robson added: "I could still be there now because Arsenal are that sort of club. Bertie Mee was there for many years and George Graham was there for eight years.

"Arsenal managers stay for a long time. They get a good manager and stick with him.

"Arsenal are a beautiful club, a solid club, and have always been one of my favourites.

"The two big pillars of our footballing industry over the years have been Manchester United and Arsenal, in my opinion.

"Arsenal was a fantastic opportunity. The way they do things marks them out as a wonderful club.

"Obviously, I was disappointed to miss out on managing Arsenal, but after that I went to Barcelona, and I wouldn't have missed Barcelona for anything."

Robson remains downbeat about Newcastle's championship chances and is still backing Arsenal to beat Manchester United to the title.

The Gunners lead third-placed Newcastle by eight points going into tomorrow's clash, but the Magpies will propel themselves into the reckoning with victory over the two sides above them.

Even so, Robson is adamant his side are not quite good enough to overhaul the big two, and he said: "I think Arsenal are only slight favourites ahead of United. It's a fight between those two.

"The League isn't won when those two teams meet. It's won at places like Fulham, Charlton and Blackburn.

"The difference between Arsenal and United, and teams like ourselves, Chelsea, Everton and Southampton, is they win the smaller games as well as the big ones.

"They're teams that can go to certain places and win, whereas the other teams don't always do that.

"Of course, if we win on Sunday we'll be stronger candidates for the title, but I still think Arsenal and United have the edge over us."

Robson pinpointed Thierry Henry as Arsenal's main dangerman and the player Craig Bellamy must copy if he is to fulfil his huge potential.

Henry is the Premiership's top scorer with 17 goals and the Newcastle manager knows his defence has to guard against the France striker's scorching pace.

He said: "Thierry Henry is sensational. He's got fantastic movement and has great acceleration from very quick to uncatchable.

"He has that extra gear which everybody would love to have, especially forwards. Ronaldo was quick, but Henry is sensationally quick.

"He can play with the ball into his feet and in behind defenders."

Gary Speed is happy for Newcastle to keep out of the limelight and continue to strengthen their Champions League claims while waiting for Arsenal or United to slip up.

He said: "We don't want everyone talking about us. Everyone's been focusing on the top two, and rightly so because they've been there and done it.

"Maybe we're falling a wee bit short of them, but if we keep going and concentrate on ourselves then hopefully we'll be in the shake-up come May.

"But we've got to beat Arsenal for people to say we're title contenders. And if we want to win the League, it's fair to say we've got to win on Sunday.

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