Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will be looking to get some of the pressure off his back when his side host Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday. The Frenchman came under fire after Arsenal lost 3-2 at Stoke City last weekend but the Gunners managed another qualification from the Champions League group stage following a 4-1 win at Besiktas. Arsenal are currently sixth in the Premier League table, 13 points behind leaders Chelsea.
Newcastle's Alan Pardew has survived intense pressure himself this season and managed to lead the club level on points with Arsenal after a terrible start to the season. Last weekend Newcastle ended Chelsea's 21-match unbeaten run with a 2-1 victory at St James' Park. Moussa Sissoko will be unavailable for Saturday's match after picking up his fifth yellow card of the campaign, Steven Taylor is also suspended while Tim Krul, Rob Elliot, Siem de Jong, Gabriel Obertan, Davide Santon, Ryan Taylor and Rolando Aarons are all injured.
Arsene Wenger will be without injured Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta, Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott and Nacho Monreal, while Aaron Ramsey and Laurent Koscielny are in doubt. Calum Chambers is suspended, so Arsenal will have to use either Kieran Gibbs or Mathieu Debuchy alongside Per Mertesacker in the middle of their defence. Newcastle have won only once since Arsenal moved to the Emirates Stadium, a 1-0 victory in 2010.
Probable starting line-ups:
Arsenal: Szczesny - Bellerin, Mertesacker, Debuchy, Gibbs - Ramsey, Flamini - Cazorla, Sanchez, Welbeck - Giroud
Newcastle: Alnwick - Janmaat, Coloccini, Dummett; Haidara - Colback, Tiote - Ameobi, Cabella, Perez - Cisse
My prediction: Arsenal to win 2-1.
Here are the odds for the match at Bet365:
Arsenal win - 4/9 Draw - 15/4 Newcastle win - 7/1
Johnajax 9 years ago
I think that Arsenal is in great form now and I think that he will be better and better, and this is very important part of season, soon Clubs in premier league will play 4 matches for 10 days and if you are in great form you can do great job for your season. Arsenal could back on 4. Places if they play like against Newcastle....
I think that Arsenal is in great form now and I think that he will be better and better, and this is very important part of season, soon Clubs in premier league will play 4 matches for 10 days and if you are in great form you can do great job for your season. Arsenal could back on 4. Places if they play like against Newcastle. And I don't know how will be reaction of fans, will they insult great Arsen after this win...
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gasa 9 years ago
The Gunners were the favorites for this match but i never expected this kind of beating, 4-1, i was thinking Newcastle would put much more of a fight there. Cazorla really showed a lot of skill as did his team, but most of the hard matches lay ahead in the second half of the season. I hope that they can maintain the performance...
The Gunners were the favorites for this match but i never expected this kind of beating, 4-1, i was thinking Newcastle would put much more of a fight there. Cazorla really showed a lot of skill as did his team, but most of the hard matches lay ahead in the second half of the season. I hope that they can maintain the performance shown and contest the top spots.
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Shumar4life
9 years ago
Arsenal show letal finishing yesterday, and I believe that if they continue with good game, they can be serious title contender. But they will need to maintain good matches, and to continue to perform matches like they did against Newcastle. But, of course real challenging matches are coming, and then we will see full potential...
Arsenal show letal finishing yesterday, and I believe that if they continue with good game, they can be serious title contender. But they will need to maintain good matches, and to continue to perform matches like they did against Newcastle. But, of course real challenging matches are coming, and then we will see full potential of this team
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