All eyes are on strikers as Arsenal and Newcastle United meet in a important match for the highest 4 race. With out Gabriel Jesus, Mikel Arteta has needed to flip to Eddie Nketiah who responded in a giant method with a hat trick in opposition to Sheffield United final day out within the Premier League, whereas Eddie Howe has utilized a mixture of Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak. Neither ahead mixture has reached peak potential, however all indicators present that they are transferring in the best route within the race for Champions League soccer subsequent season.
Jesus and Nketiah have mixed for six Premier League targets this season whereas Wilson and Isak have been one of the vital prolific striker duos within the league scoring 13 targets between them. Even with Wilson additionally lacking time on account of accidents, Eddie Howe’s assault funneling the ball to his two star strikers has made a distinction. It is in distinction to Arsenal’s assault which appears to feed Bukayo Saka on the wing and let him create. For Newcastle, Wilson and Isak each have a non-penalty anticipated targets tally eradicating inside the prime ten within the league.
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The Magpies are the one staff with two separate gamers that near the highest of the xG leaderboard, which is why they’re first within the league in non-penalty xG at 19.70 whereas Arsenal rank solely tenth at 14.24, a quantity that might recommend that, given the same defensive output of the 2 sides, Newcastle might be above the Gunners within the desk if the bounces this season had gone in another way. In fact, that is not how the video games have performed out as Arsenal have already got a seven-point lead on Newcastle with solely 10 matches performed.
Arsenal could not have as many excessive scoring matches as Howe’s Magpies, however the place they excel is getting again into video games to safe essential factors to remain forward within the race from matches {that a} staff with out the expertise of final 12 months’s title run would possibly let slip away. Collapsing after competing with Manchester Metropolis for the title is one thing that has hardened Arsenal’s younger staff to bear down when wanted, and that is one thing that Howe’s Newcastle nonetheless must study.
Of their first season in European competitors because the 2012-13 season after they took half in Europa League, Howe and Newcastle are nonetheless determining how one can defeat prime Premier League sides. Their solely losses this season have come by the hands of Manchester Metropolis and Liverpool, which is admirable, however Arsenal are undefeated as even after they path a staff like Chelsea, they’re capable of come again to safe a degree. Arteta has even bested Metropolis this season which is a mark of a real title contender.
Dealing with Arsenal will provide Newcastle an opportunity to get their season again on observe as dropped factors will solely put the highest 4 additional out of attain. It is a season that reveals how skinny margins are within the Premier League, however for the undertaking of taking Newcastle to the Premier League title to return to fruition, simply profitable video games that they are anticipated to win will not be sufficient, it is about how they dig deep to drag extra out of video games in opposition to the large six.
Prediction
With the match happening at St. James’ Park, dwelling assist will likely be sufficient to push the Magpies to place up a end result though only a level will not be sufficient to push up the desk. Rating: Newcastle United 2, Arsenal 2
The way to watch and odds
- Date: Saturday, Nov. 4 | Time: 1:30 p.m. ET
- Location: St. James’ Park — Newcastle upon Tyne
- TV: NBC | Stay stream: fubo (try for free)
- Odds: Newcastle United +180; Draw +230; Arsenal +150
