Newcastle vs Arsenal Preview

• Draw or Arsenal win
• Both teams to score

Newcastle United host Arsenal at St James’ Park in a Premier League clash where both teams look to bounce back from recent disappointments.

Newcastle’s winless run and Arsenal’s quest to stay in touch with the league leaders add a layer of intensity to this encounter, which promises to be a competitive battle.

Newcastle United: Struggling for Consistency

Newcastle’s 2-1 defeat to Chelsea last weekend marked their second consecutive Premier League loss, extending their winless run to five matches (D2, L3).

While they finally managed to score from open play after a lengthy drought, their position in 12th place is not where they envisioned themselves, especially without the distractions of European commitments this season.

Despite a strong home record this year, Newcastle’s recent 1-0 loss to Brighton at St James’ Park was their first home league defeat since January.

They’ve kept just one clean sheet in their last six home league games, suggesting that their forwards will need to be on top form against Arsenal.

Encouragingly, recent history between these two sides at St James’ Park has shown that the team scoring first has gone on to win ‘to nil’ in each of the last five encounters.

Arsenal: Keeping Pace at the Top

Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool on Sunday saw them miss an opportunity to close the gap on leaders Manchester City.

Leading twice in the match only to be pegged back, manager Mikel Arteta expressed disappointment with the result. Arsenal now find themselves five points adrift of City, adding pressure as they aim to maintain their title challenge.

Adding to their challenge, Arsenal will be without several key players, including centre-back Gabriel Magalhães, who sustained a knee injury against Liverpool.

With recent road games yielding mixed results (D1, L1), the Gunners will look to avoid a third consecutive winless away game for the first time this year.

However, their record at St James’ Park is encouraging, with four wins in the last six away H2Hs (L2), and the fixture itself has not produced a draw since 2011.

Key Players to Watch

Alexander Isak (Newcastle United)

Isak hasn’t found the net against Arsenal yet, but he has a penchant for scoring against London teams, with his last three league goals coming against clubs from the capital.

Notably, two of those goals came between the 30th and 40th minutes, suggesting he could be a first-half threat for Newcastle.

Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)

Saka continued his fine form with a goal against Liverpool, marking his third consecutive scoring appearance for Arsenal. Three of his four goals this season have been the last goal of the match, and his ability to finish strongly could be pivotal in this high-stakes game.

Tactical Battle: Can Newcastle Capitalise on Home Advantage?

Newcastle’s home form and resilience are their biggest assets going into this match. With Alexander Isak in the forward line, they’ll aim to put pressure on an Arsenal defence missing key players.

To win, Newcastle’s attack will need to be efficient, particularly as they have struggled to keep clean sheets at home recently.

Arsenal’s Approach: Breaking the Winless Away Run

Arsenal’s ability to strike first has often set the tone for their matches, and scoring early could prove crucial against Newcastle.

Bukayo Saka’s consistency in front of goal and Arsenal’s impressive record at St James’ Park should give them confidence. Arteta’s challenge will be to manage defensive vulnerabilities due to injuries while maintaining their potent attack.

Final Thoughts

This matchup between Newcastle and Arsenal brings together two sides with different goals: Newcastle seeking to stabilise their season and Arsenal looking to close the gap at the top.

With recent H2H encounters producing results rather than draws, this fixture is set to be a closely contested and intense battle.

Will Newcastle secure a home victory and end their winless run, or can Arsenal overcome their away challenges and keep pace with the league leaders?

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Newcastle v Arsenal, 2024/25 | Premier League