Preview: Newcastle United vs Arsenal – prediction, team news, line-ups
Saturday’s Premier League action rounds off with a captivating showdown as Newcastle United take on Arsenal at St. James’ Park.
The Magpies eliminated Carabao Cup title holders Manchester United in their fourth-round clash, recording an emphatic 3-0 victory over the beleaguered Red Devils at Old Trafford.
Tickets for the trip to Newcastle are available at Seatsnet.com. Fans interested in witnessing the live action can buy Arsenal tickets at competitive prices in preparation for Saturday.
Miguel Almiron’s finish, Lewis Hall’s sumptuous volley and a crisp Joe Willock effort ensured Newcastle recorded their best away win at the Theatre of Dreams in over nine decades.
The victory at Old Trafford saw Eddie Howe’s team set up a mouth-watering quarter-final encounter against Chelsea, ending their two-game winless run following defeat to Borussia Dortmund and a 2-2 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The Magpies took the lead twice against their West Midlands counterparts – both of which came via Callum Wilson – but threw away their advantage twice, settling for a point that leaves them sixth in the table.
The Toons currently sit five points adrift of the European places and six behind Liverpool, who occupy the last Champions League spot, but will fancy their chances of upsetting that arrangement as the season progresses.
They will be eyeing a return to winning ways in the Premier League when they welcome an Arsenal side still reeling from their disappointing midweek Carabao Cup exit.
Arsenal have not lifted the League Cup title in three decades, and their painful wait for mid-season glory will continue after a lacklustre display at the London Stadium.
The Gunners were outwitted by a fired-up West Ham United side who ran out 3-1 winners, ending their concerning four-game winless streak across all competitions.
There was certainly an element of fortune about two of the Hammers’ goals, especially the opener, which VAR would have most likely disallowed for a Tomas Soucek’s shirt pull on Aaron Ramsdale.
The Gunners could have no complaints when Mohammed Kudus doubled the advantage five minutes into the second half with a delightful first touch before arrowing his effort into the bottom corner.
Jarrod Bowen effectively put the tie to bed, albeit fortuitously, as his deflected effort beat Ramsdale on the hour mark.
It took until the last kick of the game for Martin Odegaard to nab a consolation for the Gunners, but they were already condemned to their second defeat of the 2023/24 campaign.
The Gunners will now have ample time to focus on their Premier League challenge after extending their unbeaten start to the season by obliterating Sheffield United 5-0 at the Emirates Stadium.
Match Preview
Newcastle United
After winning each of their last three Premier League home games without conceding, Newcastle are more than capable of putting a dent in Arsenal’s title aspirations.
The Toons are unbeaten in their last six Premier League games (W4, D2), scoring at least twice in each of the last five.
Not since a run from August to October 2004 have they managed to score more than two goals in six consecutive Premier League games.
As well as being the joint-highest goalscorers in the Premier League this season with 26 goals, Newcastle have the best shot conversion rate (18.6%) and the second-highest expected goals total (22.1) in the competition so far.
Callum Wilson is averaging a goal once every 60 minutes in the Premier League this season (7 goals in 420 minutes), the best rate of any player to have played at least 90 minutes this term.
However, having scored in each of his first three league games against Arsenal, the England international has now failed to score in any of his last nine against them.
Newcastle have had a tough time against Arsenal in recent years, failing to score in both of their meetings last season.
They have only won one of their last ten Premier League games against the Gunners, failing to score in eight of those contests.
Arsenal
Arsenal defied expectations to sink Newcastle 2-0 at St. James’ Park last term, and the Gunners will fancy their chances of thwarting the Toons in Tyneside in consecutive fixtures.
With two goals conceded on the road – both of which came at Stamford Bridge last month – Arteta’s side boasts the best defensive away record in the Premier League.
St James’ Park has built a reputation as a fortress in recent times, but that usually doesn’t phase Arsenal, who have won the second most away games against Newcastle (13) – with only Manchester United winning more.
Arsenal have scored more goals from corners (5) and more goals from set pieces overall (6, excluding penalties) than any other Premier League side this season.
The Gunners have also conceded just once from set pieces (excluding penalties), boasting the lowest such tally of any side in the division.
Arsenal have kept 30 Premier League clean sheets against Newcastle, the most one side has kept against another in the competition’s history, but their chances of extending that record on Saturday are slim.
Eddie Nketiah is Arsenal’s highest scorer in the Premier League this season, with five goals from just seven shots on target – three of which came in the 5-0 demolition of Sheffield United.
However, just one of his last 19 goals in the competition has come away from North London (v Burnley in May 2019), with all five strikes this season coming at the Emirates.
Team News
Newcastle’s concerning injury list extended even further in midweek with Miguel Almiron replacing Matt Targett after the defender picked up a hip injury just five minutes into the contest.
Howe has confirmed no new players will be back from injury this weekend as the left-back is sidelined alongside Alexander Isak, Jacob Murphy, Sven Botman, Elliot Anderson, Harvey Barnes and Javier Manquillo while Sandro Tonali is suspended.
Arsenal lost Emile Smith Rowe to a hamstring injury ahead of the defeat to West Ham, while Gabriel Jesus, Thomas Partey and Jurrien Timber remain absent.
William Saliba and Bukayo Saka should be among the regulars returning to the XI after being benched in the cup, and Arteta has a decision to make between Takehiro Tomiyasu and Oleksandr Zinchenko at left-back.
Newcastle United potential starting line-up:
(4-3-3): Nick Pope; Kieran Trippier, Jamaal Lascelles, Fabian Schar, Dan Burn; Joelinton, Joe Willock, Bruno Guimaraes; Miguel Almiron, Anthony Gordon, Callum Wilson.
Arsenal potential starting line-up:
(4-3-3): David Raya; Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Oleksandr Zinchenko; Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, Kai Havertz; Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Eddie Nketiah.
We Say: Newcastle United 1-1 Arsenal
Saturday’s showdown should present a keenly contested encounter between two sides eager to bolster their Premier League ambitions.
A win for Newcastle will catapult them back into the top-four picture, but we envisage an end-to-end contest that ends with both sides settling for a share of the spoils.
