Newcastle v Arsenal – Preview, Predictions, and Best Bets

Newcastle host Arsenal in the English Premier League on Saturday. The Gunners have won eight of the last ten league meetings between these sides with the Magpies failing to score in eight of those matches. The sides had contrasting fortunes in the Carabao Cup in midweek with the Toon scoring three goals and Arsenal leaking three goals.

Newcastle Form

Newcastle have lost just once in 11 matches in all competitions with seven clean sheets. After their three early-season losses, they turned the season around by beating five clean sheets in a row with an 8-0 win at Sheffield United and a 1-0 home Carabao Cup win over Man City being the standout results. A superb 4-1 home win over PSG in the Champions League followed.

With the fixtures piling up, they conceded late to draw 2-2 at West Ham before making light work of Crystal Palace in a 4-0 home victory. The Magpies came crashing back to earth somewhat in a 1-0 home defeat to Dortmund. Last Saturday, they surrendered two leads to draw 2-2 at Wolves. In midweek, they won 3-0 at Man Utd in the Carabao Cup with just 38% possession.

Newcastle Team News

Eddie Howe is set to be without six players for this match. Alexander Isak and Sven Botman are big losses with Callum Wilson and Jamaal Lascelles set to replace them. Elliot Anderson, Jacob Murphy, and Harvey Barnes are also set to miss out, as is the banned Sandro Tonali. Matt Targett is doubtful after an injury in midweek.

Joe Willock’s return is a boost, but Joelinton is set to be preferred to him in midfield. Miguel Almiron and Anthony Gordon will play in wide areas. Kieran Tripper, Dan Burn, and Bruno Guimaraes all had partial rests in midweek and will be fresh.

Newcastle Motivation

Newcastle have an awful record against Arsenal and will be determined to turn that around at St. James’ Park. Expect a fast start where they try to get a lead to hold onto.

If leading, Newcastle will drop off and use fast counters. The issue is if they fall behind with so many game-changing attacking options ruled out through injury. A draw wouldn’t be seen as a bad result at all.

Arsenal Form

Arsenal have played 15 matches this season in all competitions with ten wins. They’ve drawn three league matches with 2-2 score-lines after twice throwing away leads. With a trip to Man City on the horizon, they lost 2-1 at Lens on matchday two of the Champions League. A late deflected goal then brought a 1-0 home victory over Man City after 12 successive defeats versus those opponents.

A 2-2 draw at Chelsea followed having trailed 2-0. Arsenal then went to Sevilla and won 2-1 in Europe before an Eddie Nketiah hattrick to destroy Sheffield United 5-0 last Saturday. In midweek, they crashed out of the Carabao Cup after a 3-1 loss at West Ham. They trailed 3-0 after an hour despite ending up with 72% possession and just 0.44 xG allowed.

Arsenal Team News

Mikel Arteta has four players ruled out through injury. Thomas Partey, Gabriel Jesus, and long-term injury victim Jurrien Timber have been joined on the treatment table by Emile Smith Rowe. Martin Odegaard will start after two matches on the bench.

Eddie Nketiah is set to lead the line again. Either Jorginho, Fabio Vieira, or Kai Havertz will complete the midfield trio alongside Odegaard and Declan Rice. Takehiro Tomiyasu may be preferred to Oleksandr Zinchenko at left-back.

Arsenal Motivation

Arsenal will be very motivated to win this match in order to close the gap to the summit.

They clearly had one eye on his fixture on Wednesday night and that loss should have little bearing here.

Key Stats

Newcastle have scored 2+ goals in 5 of their last 6 matches.

Newcastle’s Callum Wilson has failed to score in his last nine EPL matches vs Arsenal.

Newcastle have lost just once in their last 11 matches (all competitions).

Arsenal have kept clean sheets in 9 of their last 10 matches vs Newcastle.

Arsenal have won 8 of their last 10 away matches against Newcastle (all competitions).

Arsenal have seen Both Teams Score + Over 2.5 goals in their last 4 away matches.

Verdict

Recent trends suggest Arsenal will win this game. Newcastle are playing really well though and are scoring plenty of goals. A game full of goals is tipped here and Wilson could end his drought in matches vs these opponents.

Best Bet: Over 3.5 goals at 3.15

Alternative Bet: Both Teams to Score + Over 2.5 goals at 2.20 Goalscorer

Tip: Wilson and Nketiah to both score anytime at 7.70

BET Contributor