Newcastle United will host Arsenal in the early kick off on Saturday, with both teams looking to get their respective campaigns off the ground after slow starts.
The hosts are yet to register a win but draws against Southampton and Manchester United suggest the Magpies are on an upward curve after a disappointing season last term. For a team who should be challenging for the title this season, Arsenal will be disappointed to already be five points off top spot. They are on four points after a defeat at home to West Ham, a victory away to Crystal Palace followed by a stalemate at home to Liverpool last week. Three points for either side here would be the perfect boost as the season nears the end of its first month.
Key Battle – Aleksandr Mitrovic vs Olivier Giroud
With both defenses looking suspect in the early weeks of the season, whichever striker takes advantage of this may have a large impact on the outcome of the match. Mitrovic made his first start for the Magpies last weekend at Manchester United, and although he did not score, his hold up play and aerial ability showed encouraging signs. Giroud has had a very hit and miss season thus far. The Frenchman did next to nothing against West Ham and Liverpool, but he was instrumental against Crystal Palace, scoring for the Gunners on their way to the three points.
Team News
Newcastle United
There are no fresh injury concerns for the Magpies, with Emmanuel Riviere and Sylvain Marveaux still on the sidelines, but Moussa Sissoko and Paul Dummett face a race against the clock to be fit in time. Daryl Janmaat is expected to come back to his usual right back position, after serving a one-match suspension last weekend. Florian Thauvin could make his first league start after impressing midweek in the Capital One Cup against Northampton, scoring one goal, and creating three assists.
Expected Lineup (4-2-3-1): Krul; Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Haidara; De Jong, Colback; Thauvin, Wijnaldum, Perez; Mitrovic.
Arsenal
A back injury for defender Laurent Koscielny is expected to keep him out of the trip to St James Park, while trio Jack Wilshire, Tomas Rosicky and Danny Welbeck remain injured. Per Mertesacker also is in doubt, after illness kept the German out against Liverpool on Monday.
Expected Lineup (4-2-3-1): Cech; Bellerin, Chambers, Gabriel, Monreal; Coquelin, Cazorla; Walcott, Ozil, Sanchez; Giroud.
Head-to-head
These two have played against each other 176 times, with Arsenal holding the ledger 72 wins to Newcastle’s 66. 38 matches have been drawn. Recent history also favours the Gunners, winning the past seven meetings.
Previous meeting
The last meeting between the sides came in March this year at the back end of last season when Arsenal won 2-1 courtesy of two first-half strikes from Olivier Giroud. Moussa Sissoko pulled one back for the Magpies early in the second half, but it was not enough as the Gunners held on for a sixth consecutive win on their way to a third place finish. The win at St James Park completed a third league double over the Magpies in as many seasons, and they will be hoping for a similar outcome on Saturday.
Prediction
This should be a fascinating battle with Arsenal clearly being the stronger side, but Newcastle are showing signs of improvement and a packed St James’ Park roaring on the team should make this a mouthwatering clash. Arsenal have had a stuttering start and will be eager to get their season up and running sooner rather than later. They will draw confidence from previous visits to Tyneside and they should just edge it on Saturday. Newcastle 1 Arsenal 2.
What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.
Like it when we r the underdogs, no pressure!