Two teams desperately seeking a win will square off at the Emirates this weekend as Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal host Rafa Benitez’s promoted Magpies in Round 18.
We’re not even half way through the regular season, but Arsenal fans already seem resigned to another year of disappointment- their team (30 points) at this stage is closer to bottom of the table Swansea (12 points) rather than toppers Manchester City (49 points). The Gunners are winless since beating Huddersfield last month and will be seeking their first win in four on Saturday.
Wenger’s side were held to a goalless stalemate by relegation threatened West Ham at the London Stadium in midweek. Given Arsenal’s superior recent record against West Ham (the Hammers had won only one of the last nineteen clashes between the two sides, and had last won at home against the Gunners 11 years ago), the visitors opted for some experimentation.
For the first time in a long, long while, Wenger reverted to four at the back, with young Ainsley-Maitland Niles getting his first Premiership start on the left side of defence. Nacho Monreal was paired with Koscielny in the centre and with Aaron Ramsey injured and Alexandre Lacazette nursing a niggle, in came medio Jack Wilshere and striker Olivier Giroud for their first league starts of the season.
Wilshere, making his AFC first start in well over 1 and a half years, was more than just decent. He had a very good first half (a 100% pass completion rate for over 30 passes before the interval) and his first misplaced one came only around the hour mark. With Aaron Ramsey likely to be fit this weekend, Wenger has to decide whether to restore the Welshman to the starting XI or give Wilshere another opportunity.
Arsenal dominated possession but as has been the case in recent times, failed to convert it into goals. You could even argue that West Ham, despite having only 6 attempts to the Gunners’ 22, had the better opportunities- the only clear cut ones for the visitors were Alex Iwobi hitting the post and Wilshere slashing his attempt high after a headed pass from Giroud. Had it not been for the post denying Javier Hernandez at the death, Arsenal might have left the London Stadium with no points rather than the one they eventually took home.
Newcastle are in more serious problems- the Magpies have lost seven of their last eight games and from a high of fourth in September, have come down crashing to 16th, and look in serious danger of dropping down back to the Championship if they don’t get their act together. They will also be without the services of the influential Jonjo Shelvey, who is suspended for the trip to the Emirates.
Arsenal are on a NINE game winning streak against the Magpies- a noteworthy stat if you’re betting on soccer this weekend. Winner Sports have the visitors at 12/1 at the time of writing this article- be sure to check the link above for some promo codes if you fancy Rafa Benitez’s side at those odds. For NUFC’s last victory over the Gunners, one needs to turn the clock all the way back to 2010, when Andy Carroll’s strike saw them get the better of their opponents.
Stuart Attwell has been appointed the referee for this Week 18 clash. Interestingly enough, Attwell was also the man with the whistle when Newcastle last won in the league this season- their 1-0 triumph over Crystal Palace over two months ago. Two of Newcastle’s four Premiership wins this season have had Attwell as the ref- a small glimmer of hope for Magpies fans ahead of this fixture.
Newcastle were beaten 1-0 in midweek, with goalkeeper Karl Darlow’s error allowing Wayne Rooney to score what was to prove the winner on 27 minutes. Matt Ritchie and Mikel Merino both hit the woodwork for Newcastle, who had 8 shots on target to Everton’s 1.
Last five games (Arsenal)
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
Southampton 1-1 Arsenal
Arsenal 6-0 BATE
Arsenal 1-3 Man Utd
Arsenal 5-0 Huddersfield
Last five (Newcastle)
Newcastle 0-1 Everton
Newcastle 2-3 Leicester
Chelsea 3-1 Newcastle
WBA 2-2 Newcastle
Newcastle 0-3 Watford
Arsenal v Newcastle kicks off on 16 December, 2017 at 15.00 UK