Morning all.
Arsenal play their final home game of the season today. The sun will be shining, the fans in a good mood, no doubt hoping to see the team take three points off of Newcastle United. Both clubs need points to secure Champions League football next season. A win for Mikel Arteta’s team would cement 2nd place, a draw would secure Champions League football but a defeat would leave us in need of points on the final day on the season against Southampton at St Mary’s Park. I hope it doesn’t come to that.
It feels like Newcastle are a bit of a bogey team for us these days yet it was just over a year ago that we battered them 4-1 at The Emirates. A Sven Botman own goal on 17 minutes got the ball rolling before Kai Havertz added a second six minutes later. Bukayo Saka added a third just after an hour and then minutes later, Jakub Kiwior popped up with a fourth. Ex Arsenal player Joe Willock scored for the away team but by then, I doubt many fans really cared.
This fixture usually has a bit of spice to it and I don’t mean a dose of chilli. It stems from the game a couple of years ago at St James Park which Newcastle won, although we all know they shouldn’t have. Bruno Guimaraes caught Jorginho with a forearm smash which VAR didn’t even bother checking and Gordon scored the only goal which to this day, I believe was wrongly allowed.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta on having the chance to finish their home campaign on a high against Newcastle:
It’s been a phenomenal effort from all of them under the circumstances. Last home game is always a special occasion and it is our chance to wrap up Champions League qualification. A beautiful moment to say thank you to all of our supporters who have been on every journey and in every ground. It is maybe the biggest and best day in the season when you can say thank you to them and they can show what they think of the team.
As said, Newcastle are physical and aggressive, overly so at times. Simon Hooper is the referee for this one so he’ll need to have eyes in the back of his head. We don’t want or need any favours, just honesty, fairness and consistency. Yes, I write that every week, mostly in hope that one day we’ll get it. Maybe that day will be today with non northern born referee in place.
Squad fitness update from Mikel Arteta during his pre match press conference:
Declan Rice, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli and Jurrien Timber?
They’ve done parts of the session, not a complete session, so we’re going to have to wait and see tomorrow if they can deal with things that they haven’t done because they weren’t ready to that at the end of the week.
Could Kai Havertz be involved?
We’re going to decide that tomorrow. He’s done certain parts of the sessions in the last two days and looks in great shape, but I think it’s more of a shout for all the medical staff, the doctor especially to give the clearance and then how Kai actually feels to contribute if he’s required.
I strongly suspect we’ll see all of the five at one stage or another during the game.
Adrian Clarke, writing in the official matchday programme:
In the absence of Joelinton, Howe sprung a surprise when fielding a 3-4-3 against Chelsea. It’s a system that works very well for the players at Howe’s disposal, with Jacob Murphy showing what an adaptable player he is, slotting in seamlessly at right wing-back. A back three was used for long periods of the Carabao Cup semi-final, so it would probably be a surprise if Newcastle don’t start with a trio of central defenders. The Magpies are an unapologetically abrasive side who do the basics very well. Industrious all over the pitch, physically robust and organised outstandingly well, they are a tough side to play against. They will also offer a live threat on the counter, and only Liverpool and Chelsea have produced more shots from fast breaks, with the pacy Harvey Barnes, Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak thriving in that style of play.
Isak is the jewel in the visitors’ crown, scoring 23 Premier League goals so far. His clever movement, speed and goal threat caused our rearguard a host of problems in the previous three meetings, so he is somebody who has to be marked tightly. With two matches left, Newcastle are the division’s second-highest goalscorers, and only Brentford have a more impressive chance conversion rate. The Magpies have converted 15 of 18 opening goals into victories, averaging 2.61 points per game after scoring first. However on road trips they have claimed only seven points from a possible 33 away to clubs above 13th, with just one win. Conceding early in those matches has been a recurring theme, with nine of those 11 matches seeing them go behind inside the first half, so, a fast start this afternoon for us would continue that pattern.
We can probably predict how this game will go. Newcastle will sit back, they’ll double up on Saka, no doubt putting the boot in a bit too strong whenever they can and they’ll get at our young left-back knowing he can sometimes be a little naive. That’s not a criticism by the way but he’s young, he has a lot to learn about deploying the dark arts. Howe will see Kiwior as our defensive weak link and they’ll put pressure on Partey who has just recently shown a tendency to switching off. We have to be smart, wise to their plan and don’t rise to the bait.
We need a big performance from every player in red and white and for 95 minutes. The players have had a week to prepare for this game, Arteta has had a week to prepare them. This is a day when they need to deliver.
Catch up in the comments.
At least we won’t get Attwell and Gillett as they were too busy covering each others backs at Wembley yesterday.
It’s Hooper who refereed our 2 -0 defeat to Newcastle in the Carabao earlier this season. Where Raya did his play the man into trouble bit , which he recently repeated , doesn’t seem to learn much does he ?
It would be interesting if we were to play defensively and keep Isak and Gordon quiet and hit them on the break. Even a nil nil would not surprise me , get a win at Southampton and limp over the line.
It’s been that type of season.
Hope for a win happy with draw hard agressive team could be yellow and red cards go the barcode’s way.Be a great change.1.30 am kickoff be there 2 nil the gunners.great post read them all.
One for Rico:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c8d19961m33o
Good morning Rico and all.
Sad to say that football writer legend and lifelong Arsenal supporter Brian Glanville has died at the age of 93. May he rest in piece.
That’s sad news Cicero, he’s kind of synonymous with all my early memories of reading about Arsenal post-Billy Wright. He wrote some good sports books as well. He was kind of the English version of the reknowned Hugh McIlvanney.
Morning Cicero, Potter, Kev, all.
A draw would do today to secure CL football but we want three. According to the stats, Newcastle are vulnerable away from home..
That still cheeses me off Kev, why oh why did we let him go without even giving him a chance. It’s kind of embarrassing for Arteta and the club.
Thanks Gavin.
At least the bar code”s two wind-up merchants are missing today, Trippier and Joelinton.
I detest both, the former for his sneaky off the ball antics and the latter for his big innocent smiles when he commits fouls and his constant complaints to the ref.
Not many Newcastle players I like really, other than Willock..