Match Preview: Arsenal Face Newcastle in a Tricky Fixture Hoping To Boost Their Champions League Hopes

Match Preview: Arsenal Face Newcastle in a Tricky Fixture Hoping To Boost Their Champions League Hopes

Martin Moses
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:02 PM
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  • Arsenal make the daunting trip to Newcastle looking to boost their chances of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League next season
  • Newcastle are safe from relegation this season but head coach Eddie Howe will be keen to get back on track after a 5-0 defeat against Manchester City
  • Mikel Arteta is facing defensive problems with three of his centre backs either out or doubts for the big test at St.James Park

Arsenal will tonight hope to make another big step towards Champions League qualification when they travel to play Newcastle. The Gunners will be out to get back on track after suffering a heavy defeat last time out against Tottenham Hotspurs.

They will start the game in fifth place but a win will take them back to fourth. Spurs currently occupy the last Champions League spot after a slender 1-0 win over Burnley on Sunday.

Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Arsenal, Newcastle, Champions League, Mikel Arteta, Eddie Howe.
Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka of Arsenal during a training session at London Colney. Photo by Stuart MacFarlane.
Source: Getty Images

Newcastle on the other hand are safe from relegation this season after an incredible turnaround of form this year under Eddie Howe.

Match Preview

Sports Mole reports that Chelsea, Manchester City, Tottenham, Liverpool and West Ham United are the only teams to have won at St.James Park. Arsenal will walk into a hostile reception looking to complete a season double over the Magpies.

Arsenal will also be buoyed by the fact that they have won eight consecutive matches against Newcastle in the Premier League.

Team News

Mikel Arteta will have to make do with a lean squad. Kieran Tierney and Thomas Partey are long-term absentees for Arsenal. Gabriel Magalhaes and Ben White are also facing late fitness tests to be ready for this encounter.

And with Rob Holding also set to miss out through suspension after his North London Derby farce, Arteta’s defensive problems couldn’t have come at a worse time.

Takehiro Tomiyasu and Granit Xhaka could fill in at centre backs positions should Gabriel and White fail to make it. Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah are expected to lead the line up front.

Eddie Howe meanwhile still have Jonjo Shelvey and Joe Willock out with injury. He however welcomed back Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson in their heavy 5-0 defeat to Manchester City.

The duo is expected to slot in immediately tonight with Callum Wilson replacing Chris Wood. Wood has struggled for goals upfront since making the switch from Burnley in January.

Possible lineups

Newcastle

Dubvraka: Targett, Schar, Burn, Trippier: Joelinton, Longstaff, Guimaraes: Saint-Maximin, Wilson, Almiron

Arsenal

Ramsdale: Cedric, Tomiyasu, White, Tavares: Xhaka, Elneny: Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli: Nketiah

Authors
Martin Moses photo
Martin Moses
Martin Moses is a sports journalist with over five years of experience in media. He graduated from Multimedia University of Kenya (Bachelor of Journalism, 2017-2021)
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