Premier League: Newcastle can make their Point against Arsenal

Newcastle United vs Arsenal

Two of the Premier League’s best young managers come face to face on Saturday when Mikel Arteta takes his title chasing Arsenal to meet Eddie Howe’s upwardly mobile Newcastle United.

In the league the Magpies come into the game on the back of a hard earned 2-2 draw away to Wolves, while the Gunners spanked bottom club Sheffield United 5-0; but both were in Carabao Cup action on Wednesday and they had starkly mixed fortunes. While the Geordies were merrily piling more pain on Manchester United with a 3-0 win at Old Trafford, Arsenal went down to a miserable 3-1 defeat away to West Ham. The Carabao Cup was not Arteta’s priority but he would prefer to take his team to meet Newcastle in better shape while Howe will be delighted with his group.

It’s sixth versus second; North versus South and the eyes of the whole world will be on this fascinating clash.     

Talking Points

Willock Return is a huge Boost for Magpies

The big Premier League 2023 news around the North East is the return to fitness, after six months out, of attacking midfielder Joe Willock. And he announced his return with the third goal in Newcastle’s annihilation of the Red Devils, after Miguel Almiron and Lewis Hall, with his first Newcastle goal, had put the Geordies firmly in charge. The return of Willock couldn’t come at a better time for Howe who has watched his injury list get longer by the week. Matt Target is the latest to head to the physio room after being replaced early in the game on Wednesday. 

Defensive midfielder Sandro Tonali is out for the season after he copped a ban for previous betting irregularities; and defender Sven Botman is injured as well as attacking midfielders Harvey Barnes and Jacob Murphy. Antony Gordon will continue to support the front men and Willock will slot in too, which means he is in line to face his old club, Arsenal and will be keen to show the Gunners what they are missing.

Striker Alexander Isak is doubtful, and Howe will track his progress over the next few days, but Callum Wilson, who has plundered seven goals from nine games is sure to start and he may find Almiron alongside him.    

A trip to Wolverhampton was always going to be a tough examination and Wilson showed just how crucial he is to Newcastle’s top four hopes as he scored both goals in the 2-2 draw.  

A timely reminder for Arsenal

The Gunners are second in the table and were ruthless in their destruction of Sheffield United last week but, as Arteta rested some of his first eleven against West Ham, the players who did start were given a reminder how hard it is to win games in the Premier League. Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, William Saliba and Gabriel Martinelli all began on the bench though Rice was introduced in the second half, on a night his former club swept his new team aside, and Odegaard scored a late consolation.

It is a long season and, as Arteta discovered last term, Manchester City tend to get stronger in the run in, and his squad players will need to be ready. The likes of Leandro Trossard, Jorginho and Reiss Nelson were not at the races against the Hammers and that is a concern for Arteta, who doesn’t have the number of injury worries that Howe is working with, but he will be without Gabriel Jesus. Eddie Nketiah is set to start up front and will hope to add to his five goals; and with Martinelli and Odegaard ready to supply he will have opportunities.      

The latest Premier League 2023 betting odds make the Gunners the joint second favourites to win the title, alongside a quickly improving Liverpool; but they also have a real challenge in North London since Ange Postecoglou took over at Tottenham.

This is a match Arsenal really can’t afford to lose.    

History

The Gunners have been one of the most consistently successful teams in the Premier League era, while the Magpies are recent arrivals at the top table, so it’s little surprise that Arsenal dominate the head to heads, with 38 victories to 11 over the past three decades. This corresponding fixture last season resulted in a 2-0 win to Arsenal as Arteta’s men desperately tried to keep their dwindling 2022/23 title hopes alive.      

With three wins, two draws and one defeat Newcastle have been in slightly better form than Arsenal who have won three, drawn one and lost two; though the Gunners have been very strong on the road in the league with four wins and one draw so far, but this is their toughest test. 

Betting Tip

Arsenal are the favourites to win this clash, priced here at SBOTOP at 2.34 but it will be a hard fought match with Newcastle at odds of 2.65 and the draw at 3.06.  The Gunners are under pressure to keep pace with the leaders but this is a huge challenge against a very strong side in front of a passionate and loud crowd. After 90 minutes I think Arsenal will be happy to escape with a point.

 

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