Arsenal Take Title Charge to St. James’ Park

Arsenal Premier League title charge will this weekend face another big test as the Gunners visit another ambitious side-Newcastle, at St. James’ Park in what is expected to be an explosive encounter. While the Magpies would be buoyed by their 3-0 defeat of Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Carabao Cup mid-week, Mikel Arteta would be hoping that his boys can quickly shake off the 3-1 loss at West Ham in an encounter the North London side were second best for better part of the match

On the back of contrasting evenings in the EFL Cup, Newcastle United and Arsenal return to Premier League duty with a blockbuster battle at St James’ Park this evening.

While the Magpies eased past holders Manchester United 3-0 on Wednesday evening, the Gunners’ knockout run came to an end with a 3-1 fourth-round beating at the hands of West Ham United.

A far cry from the team they were during February’s EFL Cup final, where Erik ten Hag snapped a six-year trophyless streak for his side, Manchester United lost their grip on the crown to an inspired Newcastle, who completed their revenge mission after their previous Wembley woes and recorded their best away win at Man United in 93 years.

Miguel Almirons finish, Lewis Hall’s sumptuous volley and a crisp Joe Willock finish led to a familiar sense of doom and gloom around Old Trafford, as Eddie Howe’s team set up a mouthwatering quarter-final outing versus Chelsea and brought an end to their two-game winless run following defeat to Borussia Dortmund and a 2-2 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Evidently feeling the effects of their recent Champions League exploits, Newcastle threw away a pair of slender leads – both of which came via Callum Wilson  to accept a point at Molineux, one which leaves the Magpies sixth in the table with 17 points after 10 matches.

Howe’s team are currently ranked outsiders when it comes to Champions League qualification, though, as Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa – who sit five points better off than the Magpies are engaged in a captivating five-team tussle to dine at Europe’s top table.

The hosts are more than capable of putting a dent in Arsenal’s title aspirations while boosting their own hopes of glory, though, as Newcastle have won each of their last three Premier League home games without conceding, recovering the defensive nous that made them quite the force to be reckoned with in 2022-23.

Not since 1993 have Arsenal added another EFL Cup to their brimming trophy cabinet, and their painful wait for mid-season glory will continue owing to a shoddy display at the London Stadium, where they were pressed off the park by a fired-up West Ham side.

There was certainly an element of fortune about two of the Hammers’ goals; VAR would have most likely disallowed Ben White’s own goal for Tomas Soucek’s shirt pull on Aaron Ramsdale, who was then deceived by a deflected Jarrod Bowen effort on the hour mark.

In between those two goals, though, Mohammed Kudus’s first touch and bottom-corner drive was a thing of beauty, and it took until the last kick of the game for Martin Odegaard to nab a consolation for the Gunners, who have now lost a domestic fixture for the first time this season.

Of course, plenty will claim that an early exit is a blessing in disguise as Mikel Arteta’s men vie for Premier League and Champions League stardom, and a 5-0 obliteration of Sheffield United last weekend ensured that the Gunners would remain unbeaten 10 games into the new top-flight season, sitting second in the standings – only behind Spurs as a result.

Furthermore, two goals conceded on the road – both of which came at Stamford Bridge last month is the best defensive record of its kind in the league, and the Gunners defied expectation to sink Newcastle 2-0 at St James’ Park six months ago, prior to which thie Magpies’ perceived gamesmanship tactics at the Emirates saw Howe’s team come away with a goalless draw.

The Gunners will be desperate to return to winning ways and maintain their unbeaten start to the 2023-24 league campaign, but defeating the Magpies on Tyneside could be tricky.

However, respected analyst, Chris Sutton believes the Gunners have what it takes to leave St.James’ Park with all three points, predicting a 2-0 win for Mikel Arteta’s side.

“Newcastle’s third team beat Manchester United in the EFL Cup on Wednesday, and the whole club will be buoyed by that result,” he wrote in his BBC column.

“In the same competition, I found it really odd that Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta waited until his side were 3-0 down to West Ham before bringing on Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard.

“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.