Newcastle vs Arsenal predicted lineups and team news
Arsenal get an early chance to narrow the gap at the top of the Premier League table when they head to Newcastle United on Saturday.
Newcastle vs Arsenal predicted lineups
Newcastle (4-3-3): Pope; Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall; Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Barnes, Isak, Gordon
Arsenal (4-4-2): Raya; White, Saliba, Kiwior, Timber; Saka, Partey, Rice, Martinelli; Havertz, Trossard
Two games without a win has seen Arsenal fall slightly behind Manchester City and Liverpool in the Premier League title race.
Last weekend’s 2-2 draw at home to Liverpool was a missed opportunity for Arsenal, who twice took the lead but conceded in the final ten minutes at the Emirates Stadium.
And the Gunners know only too well how difficult a trip to St James’ Park can be, having lost on two of their last three trips to Newcastle’s home fortress.
Hosts Newcastle also have something to prove after an inauspicious start to the campaign that has yielded 12 points from their opening nine league fixtures.
Wednesday’s 2-1 EFL Cup win over Chelsea was at least a step in the right direction, though, and the Toon Army will be out in full voice in support of their side on Saturday.
Gunners need to reignite title bid
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be eager for his side to return to winning ways after taking just one point from their last two league games against Bournemouth and Liverpool.
The Gunners’ defeat at Bournemouth in their last away game will have been particularly galling for Arteta as it brought an impressive run of success to a shuddering halt.
Arsenal had won away to Aston Villa and Tottenham, conceded a dramatic 98th-minute leveller at Manchester City and beat Paris St-Germain in the Champions League in the weeks leading up to their misstep on the south coast.
There was no shame in drawing 2-2 with Liverpool last weekend but it has left the Gunners five points adrift of leaders Man City in the early title race.
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Trips to St James’ Park have previously proved to be a stumbling block for Arsenal, too, and they will need to be on their guard against Newcastle, who played much better in their midweek cup win over Chelsea but have gone five games without a victory in the league.
That run does include a 1-1 home draw with champions City, however, illustrating that things are unlikely to be easy for the Gunners once more this weekend.
Newcastle vs Arsenal team news
Anthony Gordon missed Newcastle’s Premier League defeat at Chelsea on Sunday due to injury. But he returned to play over 70 minutes as the Magpies exacted swift revenge on the Blues in the EFL Cup on Wednesday.
Gordon should again start but Jacob Murphy is doubtful and centre-backs Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles as well as Callum Wilson and Kieran Trippier are still unavailable.
Arsenal centre-back Gabriel did not feature in the midweek EFL Cup win at Preston after suffering a knee injury against Liverpool last weekend and is again a major doubt.
Jurrien Timber did feature at Deepdale despite going off with cramp against the Reds and should revert to his customary left-back role at St James’ Park with Ben White set to return on the right of Arsenal’s defence.
White missed the win over Preston as a precaution but should face Newcastle. Martin Odegaard, Riccardo Calafiori, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney remain sidelined for the visitors.
