Newcastle United travel to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal on Sunday afternoon with both sides locked on 31 points.
The Premier League’s mid-table is very congested at the moment, and the Gunners’ superior goal difference sees them sit tenth – two places above Newcastle.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will be desperate to end a run of four straight draws when the Magpies come to town. The Gunners are yet to taste defeat in 2020 but have only won one of their five league games since the turn of the year.
Back to London. Back to work.#WeAreTheArsenal 🔴 pic.twitter.com/QN7bowiDjw— Arsenal (@Arsenal) February 12, 2020
Back to London. Back to work.#WeAreTheArsenal 🔴 pic.twitter.com/QN7bowiDjw
Arteta seems to have solved some of Arsenal’s defensive problems, but the team is lacking creativity and attacking players like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette are struggling for goals.
If Arsenal can find some consistency and start turning draws into wins, the Gunners will surely begin to move up the table.
Newcastle have also been very inconsistent recently. The Magpies are unbeaten in their previous four league games, but three draws during that period have prevented Newcastle from climbing up the standings.
Steve Bruce’s side claimed an excellent win against Chelsea last month. However, back-to-back draws with Everton and Norwich have halted the team’s progression.
Still, the Magpies showed great determination to see off a spirited Oxford side in an FA Cup fourth-round replay last time out. Allan Saint-Maximin scored a stunning extra-time winner after Oxford fought back.
Arsenal claimed a 1-0 victory against Newcastle earlier in the season with Aubameyang scoring the only goal of the game at St. James’ Park.
The Gunners have now won 13 of their previous 14 games against the Magpies, while Newcastle’s sole victory during that time coming back in 2018.
This has been a very low-scoring fixture in recent seasons, and each of the last eight meetings between the two teams have produced under 3.5 goals.
On-loan Southampton right-back Cedric Soares will have to wait to make his Arsenal debut after picking up and injury, while young duo Reiss Nelson and Bukayo Saka will hope to be passed fit.
As for Newcastle, Steve Bruce could have as many as eleven players absent for the trip to the Emirates with key men Jonjo Shlevey and Miguel Almiron among the group of injury doubts.
Sunday’s game is likely to be another low-scoring affair between two teams struggling in mid-table.
Forebet predicts that Arsenal will edge Newcastle by a single goal.