Arsenal vs Newcastle Preview, Team News, Likely Line-ups & Predicted Score

 

Arsenal welcome Newcastle United to the Emirates on Saturday evening looking to keep-pace with the clubs chasing a top four finish.

With our Boxing Day encounter with West Ham postponed, we’ve fallen to seventh in the table after seeing Tottenham, Chelsea, Everton and West Brom all win, meaning victory is vital tomorrow if we’re to keep in touch.

We head into the game in good form having won our last three league games and should be fresh having had the week off so there will be no excuses this weekend.

Newcastle arrive in London still searching for their first league win on the road after seeing Manchester United come from behind three times to win a seven-goal thriller at Old Trafford on Wednesday. The defeat saw Alan Pardew’s men fall to 15th in the table which is a far cry from the top-four chasing side of last season.

But despite their poor form so far this season, the Geordies are a dangerous side with plenty of quality in their team so we’ll have to be on top of our game to collect the three points on Saturday.

Team News

There is good news for Arsenal on the injury-front with striker Olivier Giroud and midfielder Tomas Rosicky both back in contention after over-coming illness that kept them out of the Wigan game last weekend.

Defender Andre Santos and midfielder Abou Diaby are due back in training on Monday but this weekend will come too soon for the pair, and goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski is still out with a foot injury.

I hope Arsene Wenger goes with the side that beat Reading and Wigan with Theo Walcott continuing up front. Theo struggled a little against the Latics but wasn’t given a lot of service so i’d like to see him given a go through the middle in a home game.

Newcastle have plenty of injury and suspension issues to contend with. Defender Mike Williamson is out after picking up his fifth booking of the season against United and Vurnon Anita is also on the sidelines with an ankle injury sustained at Old Trafford.

He joins Jonas Guitierrez, Yohan Cabaye, Hatem Ben Arfa, Steven Taylor, Ryan Taylor, Dan Gosling and Haris Vuckic on the sidelines. However, there is some good news for Pardew with midfielder Cheick Tiote returning after serving a one-game ban.

Likely Line-ups

Predicted Score

Newcastle have lost seven of their last nine games, are yet to win away from home this season and their recent record against us is poor – winning just one of their last 10 games – so we have plenty of reasons to be optimistic. I can see us making it four on the bounce and continuing our fine recent form. Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle.

What would your line-up be and what’s your score prediction? Get involved in the comments section below.