The Gunners will be anxious to win and keep their unblemished start to the 2023-24 league season, but overcoming the Magpies on Tyneside might prove difficult.
Newcastle blasted Manchester United out of the water at Old Trafford on Wednesday, winning 3-0 to advance to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, and they will be feeling very confident ahead of Arsenal’s match on Saturday.
Chris Sutton, on the other hand, feels Arsenal have what it takes to leave SJP with all three points, expecting a 2-0 win for Mikel Arteta’s side.
“On Wednesday, Newcastle’s third team defeated Manchester United in the EFL Cup, and the entire club will be encouraged by that result,” he wrote in his BBC column.
“I thought it was strange that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta waited until his team was 3-0 down to West Ham before bringing on Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Martin Odegaard in the same competition.”
Was he really expecting them to turn the game around? Either play them from the start or bring them on when they are 1-0 down.
“Both sides will be back to full strength on Saturday and I am expecting this game to be really close. There won’t be many goals, but I just have a sneaking feeling that Arsenal will take the points.”
The North Londoners have won seven league games and drawn the other three, while Newcastle have five league wins, two draws and three defeats to their name so far this term.
They last lost in the Premier League back in September 2, have lost just once at home in the competition and have lost four times in 15 games across all competitions this term.
Eddie Howe’s side would be a tough nut to crack, but Arsenal will fancy their chances given their overall form.