Tiote wants to move on

Newcastle United midfielder Cheick Tiote has urged his teammates to move on from their last-gasp defeat at Arsenal on Monday.

Alan Pardew’s side took the lead at the Emirates Stadium through Hatem Ben Arfa’s early goal, although Robin van Persie hit back immediately.

And heartbreak was to follow for Newcastle as defender Thomas Vermaelen scored the winner in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

“It was a different game today (Monday), and Arsenal played well,” Tiote told Newcastle’s official website.

“We’re very disappointed because I think we defended well tonight. But we lost in the last minute and that’s that.”

“We lost tonight and we need to move on. The game is finished and now we have to think about winning the next game.”

Newcastle still sit sixth on the English Premier League table, five points above their nearest challengers in Liverpool.

That means the dream of European football is still alive for Newcastle and a home fixture against Norwich City on Sunday could be crucial in their hopes for the remainder of the season.

“I think the next game is important,” Tiote said.

“We’d drawn the last two games and tonight we lost, so I think we need to do everything to win the next game.”

“The dressing room is okay. We’re staying positive, because we didn’t deserve that. But that’s football.”

“I think the most important thing is that we show our good character, be strong as a team and think about Sunday.”