Prediction: Arsenal vs Newcastle

Verdict: Aubameyang to score.

Best odds: 3/4

Bookmaker: William Hill

Arsenal welcome Newcastle United to the Emirates Stadium on Monday evening as their quest for Champions League rumbles on.

Arsenal

The Gunners have been ousted from the top four at the moment after Manchester United beat Watford on Saturday. They now sit fifth on 57 points.

Their season has been a strange one, to say the least. It started poorly, then they had an incredible unbeaten run, and now their results are somewhere in between. It’s very hard to tell beforehand which side of Arsenal you’ll see play, and that doesn’t necessarily relate to who the opposition are.

But they are on a good run when playing at home at the moment. Should they beat the Magpies, it will be their 10th consecutive win in all competitions on home soil.

Team News

Manager Unai Emery is still without the three long-term absentees, three players who won’t be playing again this season – defenders Rob Holding and Hector Bellerin, and forward Danny Welbeck.

Granit Xhaka was forced to withdraw from Switzerland’s 3-3 draw against Denmark on Tuesday with a thigh problem and he remains a doubt at this point.

Newcastle

The Magpies have also lifted their form recently, with Miguel Almiron, once linked with Arsenal too, proving to be an astute signing for manager Rafa Benitez. His ability to link up well with the likes of Salomon Rondon and Ayoze Perez is giving Premier League defences a lot to worry about.

However, their biggest problem remains off the pitch. There is a strain between the club owner Mike Ashley and the fans and the club faces uncertain times ahead, with Benitez often hinting at not being supported in the transfer market enough.

Huddersfield Town may have been relegated mathematically and Fulham may be very close too, but Newcastle haven’t secured their Premier League status for next season either. There will be an interesting tussle among several clubs to avoid that final place that will lead its end-of-season occupant to the Championship. Every point counts, and they will certainly try to get something at the Emirates.

Team News

Benitez is unable to call upon midfielder Sean Longstaff who is out for the season with a knee injury, and defender Fabian Schar who is serving a two-match ban.

Conclusion

It won’t be easy for them, but the Gunners should get the three points from this clash. Their home form and higher overall quality should be enough to get the job done. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has found the net 17 times this season, should get on the scoresheet at some point of the game.

Verdict: Aubameyang to score.

Best odds: 3/4

Bookmaker: William Hill