Two of the Premier League’s in-form sides face off as Arsenal play Newcastle at St James’ Park this Saturday.
The Gunners remain unbeaten in the league after 10 games and sit second, two points behind North London rivals Tottenham, while the Magpies have only tasted defeat at home once in the top flight this campaign.
Here’s all you need to know about this Saturday’s clash.
Newcastle vs Arsenal – Premier League Match Preview:
Form
Newcastle: DWLDW
Eddie Howe’s men have adjusted to playing European football well, as they sit sixth in the Premier League and remain in contention for Champions League progress from the tournament’s ‘Group of Death’.
The Tyneside outfit have scored the most goals in the Premier League, a figure boosted by their 8-0 drubbing over Sheffield United, and only four clubs have conceded fewer than their 11 goals, making the Magpies dangerous at both ends of the pitch.
Last season’s EFL Cup finalists were involved in a thrilling game against Wolves last time out. Eddie Howe’s men took the lead twice, both through Callum Wilson, but were pegged back by Wolves with a Hwang Hee-Chan strike enough to end the game all square at 2-2.
🗣️ “We probably needed to be a bit tidier on the ball.”
Callum Wilson gave an honest assessment of today’s point at Molineux. pic.twitter.com/OoJAJfH3Jl
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) October 28, 2023
Newcastle followed that performance with a 3-0 thrashing of Manchester United in the Carabao Cup in midweek to progress to the quarter-finals.
The Magpies will be without midfielder Sandro Tonali for ten months following a betting suspension and fellow new signing Harvey Barnes is out until the new year.
Swedish striker Alexander Isak has been ruled out until after the next international break later this month, while Sven Botman remains on the sidelines.
Arsenal: WDWWL
Mikel Arteta’s men have navigated a tricky run of fixtures well, having picked up wins against Manchester City and Sevilla on top of gaining a point against Chelsea in a 2-2 draw in their last five matches.
The Gunners ran riot in a 5-0 win against winless Sheffield United at the Emirates last time out when Eddie Nketiah netted a hat-trick to become the first Englishman to bag three in a game for Arsenal since Theo Walcott in 2015.
Eddie Nketiah became the 22nd player in our history to net a Premier League hat-trick on Saturday 🪄
Can you name the others? 👇
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) November 1, 2023
Fabio Vieira scored a penalty and Takehiro Tomiyasu netted his first Premier League goal late on to top off a five star performance in North London.
Only champions Manchester City have conceded fewer than the Gunners eight goals and at the heart of that has been 22-year-old William Saliba, who has played every minute of league action this campaign.
Midfielder Thomas Partey will miss the game through injury, as will Gabriel Jesus, who hobbled off injured in Arsenal’s Champions League win over Sevilla. Arsenal will be looking to bounce back from a Carabao Cup exit at West Ham in midweek.
Last Meeting
Newcastle 0-2 Arsenal, May 7th 2023
Liverpool had been the only team to beat the Magpies at St James’ Park in the Premier League last season until the title-challenging Gunners visited the North East.
Before the game, Arsenal had picked up just one win in five and could feel the Premier League trophy slipping away from them, whereas the home side had won eight of their last nine.
The Magpies started the game brightly, as Joe Willock struck the post early on and Eddie Howe’s men had a penalty overturned by VAR to keep the game goalless.
Martin Odegaard opened the scoring on 14 minutes with his side’s first real sight of goal as his left-footed effort from range beat Nick Pope in the Newcastle net.
Aaron Ramsdale and the post kept the North London side ahead in the game as the goalkeeper made saves from Willock and Fabian Schar efforts, while an Alexander Isak header struck the woodwork.
After being denied at one end, Schar would score in his own net to make it 2-0 to the Gunners, which kept the title race alive by a thread.
Predicted Lineups
Newcastle: Pope; Trippier, Lascelles, Schar, Burn; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Almiron, Wilson, Gordon.
Arsenal: Raya; White, Gabriel, Saliba, Zinchenko; Rice, Jorginho, Odegaard; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli.
Who is the referee?
Stuart Attwell.
Is Newcastle vs Arsenal on TV?
UK and Ireland: Sky Sports Main Event.
USA: NBC.
What time is kick off?
Saturday 4th November, 17:30pm GMT.
Odds
Newcastle – 9/5
Draw – 11/5
Arsenal – 8/5
