FOR your average supporter there has never been more to talk about in football at the moment, with Newcastle United's victory on Tuesday night at Arsenal showing how wide open the Premiership is this season.

We talk about our own form at York City being inconsistent, but you can basically say that about every team in each division - barring Plymouth in our league.

People have talked in the past about the Premier League being three leagues within one, but at this moment in time that has all changed.

Just looking at the Premiership table today, there is just a six-point gap between the top eight clubs and you can say any of those sides are capable of winning it.

In seasons gone by it has been cut and dried by this stage, but that is certainly not the case now.

The Premiership title race is so unpredictable. One minute Manchester United are dead and buried and out of it, with everyone writing them off. Now they have had a couple of wins and other teams have lost and all of a sudden they are back in there - I certainly would not back against them.

The result at Arsenal on Tuesday night has just highlighted how unpredictable games are this season.

I know you can say Newcastle were going to win in London at some stage after four years, but after their previous performances in the capital the last place you would have expected them to win at is Arsenal.

And all of a sudden they have come from nowhere, in one respect, to top the division.

Arsenal had had a good run then they go and lose unexpectedly to Newcastle. Leeds United have had a little bit of a blip and who would have expected Liverpool to lose 4-0 at Chelsea.

The results are so unpredictable it is crazy, but that is the beauty of football.

The Premiership is the focal point of most of the media, so for any neutral - and for the press - it is like manna from heaven.

There is so much to talk about. But we are in a world now where it is all critical. It is not a case of teams being brilliant or praised for winning, it is more 'how have Liverpool lost this, how have Arsenal lost that, why have Man United lost those games?'.

To be honest with you, I haven't got a clue who will win it, but all I will say is that I won't back against Manchester United.

Meanwhile, after my column last week about whether we need a national stadium or not, I see matters seem to be reaching a conclusion with Wembley being the preferred site.

I said last time it needed to be sorted out quickly and, although that is still the case because nothing is yet definite, I'm pleased some kind of decision has been made.

Although I did say I didn't think there was a need for a national stadium, now they've decided there is, I'm pleased it looks like it's going to be Wembley.

From the players' point of view, when the stadium is finally built there will be an attraction to play there - whether it is the play-offs or a cup final - just because it is Wembley.

Congratulations to Michael Owen and David Beckham for their success on the European and World stage. It's good to see English players recognised for their efforts.

Finally I would like to wish a happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year to all the readers of this column.