Match Preview: Newcastle United v Arsenal; Gunners Look to Keep League Momentum Going

With the midweek ‘glorious failure’ behind us all attention turns to maintaining our momentum in the league and winning a second consecutive FA Cup. That all begins today with a trip up north to St. James’ Park and a tie versus Newcastle United.

Since our 4-1 to drubbing of Newcastle late in the first half of the season,  the Geordies have continued a gradual inconsistent slide.  Alan Pardew has left has set up shop in London with Crystal Palace and the barcodes are struggling with a slew of injuries which makes predicting their team a little difficult.

While turmoil seems to reign at Newcastle, Arsenal should not overlook an opponent who has vanquished Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester City this season. As we all know Arsenal have a habit of looking beyond opponents and if we approach this match like that, all the positive momentum we’ve built in the league would be for naught.

Still, Arsenal need to use this match as a way to move on from the disappointment of their Champion’s League exit. The race for Champion’s League qualification is tightening up and while Arsenal look solid to finish either 2 or 3 at this point, any slip up could throw them back into the pack of top 4 hunters.

Arsene will have a headache in selecting his team for this match. Some of our players look tired. Alexis Sanchez and Hector Bellerin look specifically in need of a break. With Gabriel back on the bench, will Wenger opt to give Per Mertesacker a match off? My humble opinion is that none get a rest, not with a two week international break happening on the conclusion of this match.

Wenger himself has discussed of how hard it would be drop Alexis even though he is tired. Wenger has a point. Even though Chile’s version of the energizer bunny has not scored consistently for a few games, he still offers something in terms of his overall work rate and ability to make things happen.

The obvious conundrum is in the midfield. Thomas Rosicky comes back from injury but don’t think we can expect to see him start as this would be his first match available. Additionally, the boss has to decide if he gives a break to either Cazorla or Özil and runs with Ramsey in the middle. All three have been solid as of late and Ramsey looks to be getting back to his pre-injury form which is an obvious benefit to Arsenal’s attacking strength.

While people will call for Theo Walcott maybe to get a nod in this match, I am beginning to wonder if we will actually see Theo start a match again this season and for Arsenal again. He will certainly come off the bench but as has been evidenced lately, he is not having the impact we had hoped he would have.

He still makes quality runs but it’s everything after that combined with an overall work effort that has seen the likes of Podolski sent on loan and others sold or released, that makes it hard for Theo to get on the field. When the squad was filled with a few talented players it was easy for Theo to stand out amongst the crowd. Now the quad drips of talented attacking players who offer a more complete package then Theo and you can see why he is not featuring. I think we can expect that trend to continue this weekend.

Overall, I don’t expect much in the way of squad rotation. As much as it needs it, I think the looming break coming up means Wenger sticks with the squad that looked so strong in the win/defeat to Monaco. If that team shows up against Newcastle it will be hard to see anything other than an Arsenal win.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Arsenal: Olivier Giroud. In 5 Premier League appearances against Newcastle he has netted 6 goals. Nuff said.

Newcastle. Daryl Janmaat. Hard to see this lad being at Newcastle beyond this season. Has been a revelation for them as FB.

PROBABLE LINEUPS:

Click to enlarge

INJURIES AND SUSPENSIONS:
Arsenal: Arteta (calf), Oxlade-Chamberlain (hamstring), Debuchy (shoulder), Wilshere (ankle), Diaby (muscular),

Newcastle:  Aarons (hamstring), Haïdara (knee), Abeid (thigh), Dummett (knee) Tioté (knee), S Taylor (achilles), De Jong (collapsed lung), R Taylor (doubtful – knee), Elliot (doubtful – hip/thigh), Cissé (suspended 2 of 7), Coloccini (suspended 1 of 3)

HEAD TO HEAD:

Statistical comparison for Arsenal away and Newcastle at home.

MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: Mike Jones (15M 43Y 2R)
Assistant Referees: R West, M Scholes
Fourth Official:  K A Woolmer

BROADCAST INFORMATION:
UK: Highlights on BBC MOTD
US: NBC Sports Network 11:00AM EST

YAMA PREDICTION:
Newcastle 0 – 2 Arsenal

MATCH FACTS: (Courtesy Opta Sports via FourFourTwo.com)

• Arsenal are unbeaten in the last eight Barclays Premier League games against Newcastle, winning the last six in a row.
• The Gunners are the only team ever to not win a Premier League game after being 4-0 up at half-time, when they drew 4-4 with Newcastle at St James Park in February 2011.
• Newcastle have failed to score in their last three Premier League home matches against the Gunners.
• Olivier Giroud has netted six goals in five Premier League appearances against the Magpies.
• Olivier Giroud has scored six and assisted three in his last eight Premier League appearances.
• Newcastle have won just four of the last 39 games in all competitions against Arsenal (W4 D11 L24).
• In Arsenal’s last six Premier League away matches, the winning side has netted exactly two goals.
• Newcastle have won just one of their last five Premier League home matches (W1 D2 L2).
• St James Park has seen the joint-most goals netted in the final 15 minutes of matches (13 along with the Emirates).
• Alexis Sanchez has scored the first goal of the game more often than any other Premier League player this season.

What are your thoughts on this match? Can Arsenal take all 3 points on the road versus Newcaslte? Who should start? What do you think the score will be? Let us know.