Verdict: Arsenal to win and over 3.5 goals
Best Odds: 11/8
Bookmaker: Bet 365
Newcastle United travel to the Emirates on Saturday to play an Arsenal side who are looking for their first win in four games. Here is our match prediction of the Premier League clash.
Arsenal
It is now three matches without a win for Arsenal after defeat to Manchester United were followed by draws against Southampton and West Ham United. Arsene Wenger’s men now sit 18 points behind leaders Manchester City and are seventh in the table following the round of midweek fixtures. It’s quite an unusual position for the Gunners to be in because they have taken an incredible 21 points from eight Premier League home games, but their away record is pretty abysmal for a side who have hopes of a top-four finish. Arsenal have picked up just two wins out of nine away fixtures and they’ll drastically need to improve that if they are to salvage anything from the campaign. Fortunately, they find themselves at the Emirates on Saturday against a Newcastle team who are suffering a rapid decline down the table. Wenger will demand ruthlessness from his team and he may give Jack Wilshere his second successive start of the season after he was the best player on the pitch in their 0-0 draw with West Ham on Wednesday.
Team News
Aaron Ramsey and Shkodran Mustafi will miss the game as they battle back from injury. Santi Cazorla also remains injured.
Meanwhile, Jack Wilshere looks set to make his first Premier League start at the Emirates wince May 2016.
Newcastle
Everything was looking promising in September when Newcastle were sitting pretty in the top half of the table, however fast forward two months and they find themselves on the back of seven defeats in eight matches. It has been a magnificent decline for Rafa Benitez’s men and they are now firmly in a relegation scrap ahead of a worrying trip to Arsenal on Saturday. Their problems lie all over the pitch with the Magpies scoring less than one goal per game on average and also only keeping one clean sheet in the last 13 games. Newcastle have struggled in particularly away from home where their solitary win came in September against Swansea City and have only picked up five points from seven matches. Benitez and his team won’t have been helped by the impending takeover talk that has distracted the club in recent months and it’s no coincidence that the football on the pitch has suffered during this time. Fans will be hoping that a deal can get sorted as quick as possible but until then they have the small matter of a trip to the Emirates this weekend where they know they’re likely to come away with nothing.
Team News
Jonjo Shelvey is suspended for Newcastle after he was sent off against Everton on Wednesday.
Paul Dummett could come back into the fold while Isaac Hayden could face his former club.
Key Factors to Consider
- Arsenal have won each of their last nine Premier League games against Newcastle, scoring 22 and conceding just six
- The Magpies have lost their last five league visits to the Emirates
- Newcastle have only picked up one point from their last eight games
- Arsenal have only scored two goals in 25 shots on target in their last three matches
- Rafa Benitez has never won away at Arsenal in six attempts
Conclusion
Even though Arsenal haven’t won in three Premier League matches, their record at the Emirates has been superb this season. When you combine that with Newcastle’s dreadful run of form then you can only see one outcome.
Verdict: Arsenal to win and over 3.5 goals
Best Odds: 11/8
Bookmaker: Bet 365
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