The Magpies head for the Emirates Stadium for their Carling Cup third-round clash with Arsenal tomorrow night fully expecting the Frenchman to maintain his policy of placing the club's hopes in the hands of his youngsters and fringe players.

However, having seen the Gunners reach last season's final and take a 1-0 lead over Chelsea before succumbing to Didier Drogba's double using just that approach, Allardyce is under no illusions as to the task at hand.

He said: "All Arsene's players are young and all Arsene's players are experienced.

"It's nothing to do with age, it's to do with experience and if you look at the experience they have got, they are all well qualified now in Premier League football and cup football and a lot in European football.

"He is top of the league because of that at the moment, on the experience those young men have gained very, very quickly.

"He plays the kids every week - he plays (Cesc) Fabregas every week, so what's he? A kid.

"They will all have Premier League experience. It's not about whether they are kids or not, it's about how much experience they have got.

"They have got lots of experience now and they have gained that experience by last year, those so-called kids - they were not kids in my opinion, they were talented footballers good enough to play at that level - getting them right the way through to the Carling Cup final.

"This time, they should be better."

As if to illustrate that fact, Arsenal cemented their place at the top of the Barclays Premier League on Saturday with a 5-0 demolition of Derby , who were overwhelmed just five days after beating the Magpies 1-0 at Pride Park.

Emmanuel Adebayor's hat-trick, Fabregas' seventh goal of the season and a stunning strike from Abou Diaby did the damage as youth prevailed in chilling fashion.

Twenty-four hours later, Newcastle relied on slightly more experience as a first-half Mark Viduka double paved the way for a 3-1 victory over West Ham which left them sitting fifth in the table.

The win was secured by the excellent Charles N'Zogbia 14 minutes from time, and would have been more comfortable had substitute Obafemi Martins not fired into the side-netting after rounding keeper Robert Green with three minutes remaining.

However, Allardyce's satisfaction was dented by Michael Owen's premature departure with a groin problem for the second time in a week.

The 27-year-old, like Brazilian defender Claudio Cacapa who was similarly afflicted, will undergo a scan today with surgery a distinct possibility for both men.

Neither will figure against Arsenal and Owen's situation in particular is a concern for both his club and country with England facing crucial Euro 2008 qualifiers against Estonia and Russia next month.

Viduka, whose goals yesterday were his first for the club at St James' Park, admitted he feels for his £17million striker partner.

He said: "It's disappointing for Michael. We all know how good he is and it will be great to see him get back to full fitness.

"It's great playing up front with Michael. He is a top-quality striker and when you get the ball, you know what he is going to do.

"He knows what I am going to do to, he looks for you. It's great to play with those type of players.

"All strikers have their plusses and minuses, but in general, Michael's all-round game is excellent and that's why he is worth so much money, and that's why he is one of the most expensive players in the world.

"Michael has had a lot of problems with injuries in the past couple of years. It would be great if both of us can stay fit."

Injuries were also on the mind of Hammers boss Alan Curbishley as he surveyed a contest in which slipshod defending cost his side dear after he lost former Magpies Craig Bellamy and Scott Parker at the last minute.

He said: "At the start of the season, the front two was Bellamy and (Bobby) Zamora, and five games later, both of them are not playing.

"That's the way it is for us at the moment with (Julien) Faubert, (Kieron) Dyer, Parker and Bellamy, it's a big hit for us.

"But players have come in and done well enough to get us where we are."