Arsenal v Newcastle United; Premier League Match Preview
Season’s Greetings Gooners. I join you after a week of needed merriment and limited access to all things football and Arsenal – except for the Arsenal related gifts I was happy to receive. But I am back at it, refreshed and looking forward to some Arsenal football. And hopefully like myself the red and white charges of Arsene Wenger are refreshed and ready to continue their progression into the new year and the downward slope of the season.
After cancelling their Boxing Day fixture against West Ham, Arsenal have had a relatively restful week unlike this weekend’s opponent – Newcastle. This isn’t last season’s surprise, beset by injuries and yo-yo like performances, when you play Newcastle you don’t know what you are going to get. You can get heroic performances like this past Wednesday’s slugfest against Manchester United. They may have been on the losing end but it was a performance that should’ve netted them a better result. On the other hand they have had performances where they’ve just shown up and gotten deservedly thrashed. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?
This fixture last season was an exciting duel that ended on a late dash and Vermaelen bust the gut effort that headed home the winner in the dying minutes. It kept the Gunner’s drive for Champion’s League qualification alive and vanguished one their potential challengers at that point. The fortunes of both these clubs are markededly different than last season.
For all their success last season, Newcastle are 10 points worse then they were last year at this time. They’ve not been helped with the long-term injuries to key players like Ben Arfa, Cabaye and Gutierrez. Arsenal are only beginning to show anything resembling a heartbeat having won their last three in a row – a feat they hadn’t managed at all this season until dispatching Wigan. Arsenal will be looking for their fourth straight win this season and a chance to climb back into the top 4 and Newcastle will be looking to rebound from such a gruelling loss to Manchester United.
One can argue that Arsenal shouldn’t have cancelled the match against West Ham as other matches occurred in London and reports are without very little difficulty caused by the tube strike. On the other hand some can argue it was shrewd of Arsenal to cancel the match and give the team more rest in this fixture-laden time of the year. Additionally, while any match is always a fun occassion it sort of seems an after-thought to the heightened expectations of the looming January transfer window.
I continue to argue that the league is in the poorest state in terms of the on-field performances than I can ever remember. When was the last time you could remember that the league leaders have the 5th worst defense in the league? To bring it closer to home, when was an Arsenal team that was this poor still blessed with a top 5 defence? Their 7 cleansheets are tied for third in the league. Overall, the league is exciting especially when you have matches like the Newcastle v United match from the midweek, but it is still poor overall.
What’s that got to do with Arsenal and the transfer window? Well, if someone had the huevos to actually do some business this January, two additions to this team could make a real push with half a season to play. Could they win the league, unlikely (nor do I actually think they could) but make the right moves and the race to may could at least be exciting again. But again it takes some brass balls the size of the Titantic’s screws to step up and see the chance and take it. The fact is I am still unconvinced anyone will.
On Monday we’ll take a look at the names we are linked to as well some who look likely to leave. It may be just an exercise in futility but hey, it never hurts to hope. In the mean time we have a winnable fixture on Saturday. The team is rested and none of our key players are seriously injured. The manager has a lot at his disposal, the set up will be key. We project that Wenger will go with the favored lineup and formation of the last two matches. Especially in light of the exhausting match Newcastle had to put in. Speed kills and the front three of Podolski, Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain are pacy and force opponents to be honest. Let’s hope they turn in the right performances if called upon.
Players to Watch:
Arsenal: Thomas Vermaelen and Per Mertesacker. I picked both because both will need to be on their game against the likes of Demba Ba and Cisse. Ba has 11 goals this season and for the most part always looks a threat when he has the ball. If the BFG is out of position or the Captain is overly aggressive they will have issues and we need them to be on their game.
Newcastle: Demba Ba. Not because he is a rumoured Arsenal target but because since last season he simply has been a terror. With a low buy-out clause the in-form striker is fancied by a lot of clubs, including Arsenal though PSG seems to be his preferred target.
Key battle:
Chiek Tiote vs the Arsenal Midfield. I know Tiote isn’t everyone’s flavor but he is the steel in the middle of the pitch for Newcastle and hardly do opponents not know he is there. He can tackle and win the ball and break up play with ease. Arsenal need to insure they are making it difficult for him to break up their play with quick movement and short, quick passes. Jack will also need to keep his temper in check as it could get dicey.
How the match should play out:
Arsenal’s at home form has been hit and miss – much like most of the season, with the gradual improvement in form, I am looking for them to make a statement with this game. The midfield three look to finally be gelling and understanding with each and they will look to quickly establish themselves. With limited options in the midfield and with a CB (Williamson) suspended, Pardew has some choices to make and it is likely they will try and play for the point and come out of the Emirates no worse for the ware. The defenders will look to keep Arsenal out wide and not give them joy in the middle of the pitch but this could be problematic. The front three of Podolski, Walcott and Oxlade Chamberlain forced Reading to play stretched out in the back and it created channels for the Arsenal midfield to run in and create the boatload of chances they had. If Arsenal can exploit this and also make Chiek Tiote ineffective I like the chances of a home win and extending the winning streak to 4.
Projected Lineups:
Injuries and Suspensions:
Arsenal: Diaby (thigh), Fabianski (back), Santos (stomach muscle)
Newcastle: Ben Arfa (hamstring), S Taylor ( hamstring), Cabaye (groin), Gosling, (ankle), Gutiérrez (knee), R Taylor (knee), Vuckic (knee), Williamson (suspended), Anita (ankle).
Leading Scorers:
Arsenal: Cazorla 7
Newcastle: Ba 11
Assists Leaders:
Arsenal: Podolski 5
Newcastle: Marveaux 2, Ben Arfa 2
Last Meeting (EPL):
Arsenal: 2
Wigan: 1
Goals For:
Arsenal (home): 2.2
Newcastle (away): 1.2
Goals Against:
Arsenal (home): 1.2
Newcastle: (away): 2
Last Five:
Arsenal: WWWLD
Newcastle: LWLLW
Goal Difference:
Arsenal: 14
Newcastle: -7
Match Official:
Referee: Chris Foy. Matches: 13, R0, Y21
Broadcast Information:
US: FoxSoccerChannel 12:30 PM EST
UK: ESPN UK 17.30 GMT
YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 2
Newcastle: 1
