Arsenal vs Newcastle United Preview

The biggest game in the race for the Champions League so far is set for Sunday, as Carabao Cup winners and third-placed Newcastle travel down to London to visit Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, with the Gunners lying in second.

Newcastle have been in scintillating form, winning nine of their last eleven, sending good sides, such as Chelsea, Liverpool, Brentford and Crystal Palace, back home with their tails between their legs.

Arsenal meanwhile head towards this game in the worst form possible - they have failed to win a game since mid-April, and have conceded six goals in their last three Premier League games. If they lose here, their seemingly unassailable cushion in second place earlier in the season would be almost entirely wiped out.

As the game approaches, here is everything you need to know about both sides ahead of kick-off.

Where to Watch

This game will be broadcasted on Sky Sports Main Events, with kick-off scheduled for 16:30 on Sunday.

Key Statistics

• Arsenal are on their worst run of form this season, failing to win any of their last five games across all competitions.
• They have failed to keep a clean sheet in that time, conceding nine goals. The absence of Gabriel Magalhaes at the back is being felt.
• Newcastle have beaten Arsenal in all three of their previous meetings this season (two in the League Cup, one in the Premier League).
• However they must be wary - defeat here could see them fall to sixth, dropping out of the Champions League places.

Arsenal Preview

Arsenal Predicted Lineup (4-3-3): David Raya (GK); Myles Lewis-Skelly, Jakub Kiwior, William Saliba, Ben White; Ethan Nwaneri, Thomas Partey, Martin Odegaard; Gabriel Martinelli, Raheem Sterling, Bukayo Saka.

Arsenal have a number of problems to solve as they prepare to host the Magpies. Firstly, Mikel Merino, Arteta’s makeshift striker since Gabriel Jesus’ injury, saw red last time out against Liverpool, with inside forward Leandro Trossard also being removed from proceedings due to injury.

With all of Arsenal’s strike options off the table, that brings us to their second problem - they have played Newcastle on three occasions this season, lost every single one of them, and failed to score a goal across 270 minutes of football against Eddie Howe’s team.

The Gunner’s may have home advantage here, but with their buffer to the teams below being cut down to size in recent weeks, Arteta will know that second place is far from secured this season, and his side will certainly be feeling nerves prior to kick-off here.

Newcastle United Preview

Newcastle United Predicted Lineup (3-4-2-1): Nick Pope (GK); Dan Burn, Sven Botman, Fabian Schar; Tino Livramento, Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, Jacob Murphy; Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes; Alexander Isak.

Superb against Chelsea last weekend, and brilliant over the course of the last two months or so, Eddie Howe knows this meeting with Arsenal is simply another case “same as last time boys”, knowing that anything near the level they have been producing in the second half of the season will likely be enough to trump a struggling Arsenal.

It has been a remarkable turnaround - Newcastle sat 12th in mid-December, and required a sudden spike in Alexander Isak’s scoring form to turn their season on its head. However, since then, Newcastle’s form has sustained even when the Swedish striker is misfiring, a trait so important to a squad chasing Champions League football.

Newcastle are more than good enough to be competing in Europe’s Premier competition next year - their squad is talented, with the likes of Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes running the show, while their fans have the ability to make St. James’s Park one of the most hostile footballing hot pots around.

Arsenal vs Newcastle United Head to Head

Recent Meetings:

• 05/02/2025: Newcastle 2-0 Arsenal.
• 07/01/2025: Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle.
• 02/11/2024: Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal.
• 24/02/2024: Arsenal 4-1 Newcastle.
• 04/11/2023: Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal.

Arsenal vs Newcastle United Betting Tip

Both sides have plenty to play for here - Arsenal want to seal second place and avoid being unnecessarily dragged into the battle for top five while Newcastle know a win here would see them leapfrog the Gunners.

Neither side will give anything away here, and with two talented squads, there is a likelihood that they play each other into a stalemate. We reckon this one will end in a draw, meaning Champions League drama will go down to the final day.

Arsenal vs Newcastle United Prediction

Arsenal 1-1 Newcastle United

Picking a winner is too close to call, and honestly, predicting a winner out two sides who are separated by a place and two points is a hugely difficult task anyway - the context of the game makes it nigh on impossible. Still, Arsenal are set to finally break their 2024/25 scoring duck against Newcastle.