Rafa Benitez has just released team news and the starting Newcastle team to play at home to Arsenal this afternoon and once again it’s an unchanged team.
So Islam Slimani has not forced his way into the starting lin-up but it’s almost certain we see him get some playing time today – but Dwight Gayle must be doing well in training to keep his place.
If we can win the game we will remain in 10th place in the league table but be only one point behind 9th placed Everton with a game in hand – and we play at Goodison Park a week tomorrow night.
TEAM NEWS: Here’s how Newcastle United will line up against @Arsenal at @StJamesParkNE1 today.
Rafa Benítez has named an unchanged side. #NUFC pic.twitter.com/L0JUz96lij
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) April 15, 2018
Islam Slimani – on bench
Arsenal had not had a good season and we have a decent chance to get our first win against Arsenal since November 2010 and also seal our safety in the division.
If that happens a celebration will be in order.
Three fans in five think we can get all 3 points today.
Howay The Lads!!
Comments welcome.
291 comments so far
AncientC
Apr 15, 2018 at 12:32 PM
Comment #1Arsenal: Cech, Chambers, Mustafi, Holding, Monreal, Elneny, Xhaka, Willock, Iwobi, Aubameyang, Lacazette.
Subs: Ospina, Maitland-Niles, Mertesacker, Kolasinac, Nelson, Welbeck, Nketiah
Vask
Apr 15, 2018 at 12:35 PM
Comment #2Hahaha Willock!
AncientC
Apr 15, 2018 at 12:36 PM
Comment #3I have to admit, I was thinking to myself *what the hell* as I was typing some of those names lol
Vask
Apr 15, 2018 at 12:37 PM
Comment #4Repost cos my opinion matters:-
Loving the positivity this week seems to be even leaking into the press. I do get nervous when we get our expectations up for a victory though. It’s classic toon thar, so it’s acceptable. Still, I’d be happy with a draw. Here w’gan!
Vask
Apr 15, 2018 at 12:39 PM
Comment #5I love it. I thought it was a typo for wilshere, apparently willock is a player in his own right.
Seems a beatable team nonetheless.
Tsunki
Apr 15, 2018 at 12:41 PM
Comment #6As I thought Slimani not really match prepped but surely has to come on second half unless of course we are drawing and hanging on by the skin of it teeth.
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 15, 2018 at 12:41 PM
Comment #7Exactly as I expected and predicted. Slimani will probably get 20 to 30 mins in 2nd half.
Vask
Apr 15, 2018 at 12:43 PM
Comment #8Is that a 433 that arsenal are playing? Hopefully they put pea against dummet. Remind him that the grafter humbles all the big names.
ronaldo aarons
Apr 15, 2018 at 12:44 PM
Comment #9That strike force though, aubameyang and lacazette.
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 15, 2018 at 12:44 PM
Comment #10To think we could have had both Lacazette and Aubameyang. They’ll need some watching but I reckon our defense is up to the job.
Vask
Apr 15, 2018 at 12:44 PM
Comment #11How long till kick off now bill?
Ron Knee
Apr 15, 2018 at 12:45 PM
Comment #12In anticipation of an unfavourable result:
“If only he’d started Slimani …”
“If only he’d brought on Slimani earlier …”
“If only he’d kept Mitro …”
“If only we hadn’t played so defensively …”
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 15, 2018 at 12:45 PM
Comment #1345 minutes to KO
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 15, 2018 at 12:46 PM
Comment #14As an irrelevant aside from football, can anyone tell me why it takes 2 hours to mow a postage sized lawn.
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 15, 2018 at 12:48 PM
Comment #15“Postage stamp sized lawn”
Ron Knee
Apr 15, 2018 at 12:48 PM
Comment #16EGB
Sharpen your scissors more often.
ronaldo aarons
Apr 15, 2018 at 12:48 PM
Comment #17Essex
Because you aren’t Rafa Benitez!
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 15, 2018 at 12:50 PM
Comment #18I’d be a little bit more worried if Welbeck was staring though.
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 15, 2018 at 12:51 PM
Comment #19Good answers but it’s my neighbour not me. 🙂
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 15, 2018 at 12:51 PM
Comment #20I do mine in about 10 minutes.
bettyswallocks
Apr 15, 2018 at 12:52 PM
Comment #21On the Jib / George Best analogy. Other than being crap at football Jib is very similar to Besty as he also likes a good drink and is not averse to giving his missus a clump.
MikeAshleysWallet
Apr 15, 2018 at 12:53 PM
Comment #22It’s a bit of a concern that Merino doesn’t feature in the squad again.I hope he doesn’t get unsettled and look for a move in the summer.
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 15, 2018 at 12:54 PM
Comment #23Ron
If only Gayle hadn’t missed that sitter
Playing 12 men
Bloody cheating Ar$eholes
🙂
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 15, 2018 at 1:01 PM
Comment #24I know ben.g already posted the team cheers mate, but I thought I’d just do it again on the match thread, (unless there’s another bus waiting to go)
Newcastle United: Martin Dúbravka; DeAndre Yedlin, Jamaal Lascelles, Florian Lejeune, Paul Dummett; Mohamed Diamé, Jonjo Shelvey; Matt Ritchie, Ayoze Pérez, Kenedy; Dwight Gayle.
Substitutes: Karl Darlow, Javier Manquillo, Ciaran Clark, Isaac Hayden, Jacob Murphy, Islam Slimani, Joselu.
Hadn’t realised there was no Merino, a bit surprising!
lesh
Apr 15, 2018 at 1:02 PM
Comment #25Ron Knee
If only, if……. Rafa was a poet, he could’ve written this for the players.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/If—
If seems very relevant to the lads today.
Ron Knee
Apr 15, 2018 at 1:02 PM
Comment #26“… should have been shown the red card. Shelvey was sent off for less.”
Ron Knee
Apr 15, 2018 at 1:04 PM
Comment #27No Atsu?
JP...from The Rock
Apr 15, 2018 at 1:05 PM
Comment #28Gutted not to see Slimani start, but hey if we get anything out of this game I would be really happy regardless.
HWTL!
Ron Knee
Apr 15, 2018 at 1:06 PM
Comment #29lesh
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs, you’ve obviously misread the situation!
Pottsclock
Apr 15, 2018 at 1:06 PM
Comment #30Watching Arsenal ladies vs Everton. I think we know who ate all the pies.
P.S. That’s Everton ladies
Mister Tuff
Apr 15, 2018 at 1:06 PM
Comment #31Team as a lot expected. Probably a 2 -2 draw – but I’m going for 3 -2 to the Toon.
What’s all this other stuff about Jibby Saville – never had time to read back.
JP...from The Rock
Apr 15, 2018 at 1:08 PM
Comment #32Typical Sky just blabbering on about England’s football darlings Man U. I fking hate Man U! They are always centre stege no matter what. We could beat Liverpool 8-0 and they will still talk about how Man U won 1-0 at Stoke FFS!
Wish they would get relegated someday!
ronaldo aarons
Apr 15, 2018 at 1:15 PM
Comment #33Man Utd and Liverpool are the darlings of the media. The other day they had coady the wolves captain on talksport. One or two questions about wolves the rest about Liverpool because he’s from Liverpool. It was a joke lol.
davetoon
Apr 15, 2018 at 1:20 PM
Comment #34A lot if changes to this Arsenal side. Need to get through first 15 minutes withiut conceding and it’s game on!
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 15, 2018 at 1:25 PM
Comment #35Right 4 Minutes to KO, time to settle down on the Sofa, chuck the missus out of the room and enjoy the game, win. draw or lose, given that we are no longer in the must win situation.
HWTL HWTF HWTR HWTBRS
ilovetoon8788
Apr 15, 2018 at 1:25 PM
Comment #36I think lacazette iwobi and aubamayeng upfront will be too much for us.
Newcastle 0 arsenal 4.
Hail Wor Ashley
Apr 15, 2018 at 1:26 PM
Comment #37Arsenal playing a couple f youngsters and back-up players, 48hrs since they got back from Moscow, NUFC in great form and safe, everybody confident………… can only mean one thing…….
Dennis Twice
Apr 15, 2018 at 1:26 PM
Comment #38Attack Toon attack, attack!
ilovetoon8788
Apr 15, 2018 at 1:27 PM
Comment #39Elneny is also a wonderful passer of the ball. He will unlock our defence.
Online Guy
Apr 15, 2018 at 1:29 PM
Comment #40Think the match will go something like this
Both teams keeping it tight , Arsenal dropping like flies if we so much as sneeze near them , drawing free kicks and bookings out of us…
Need an unbiased strong Ref .
Second half … Slimani to prosper if he gets on if we use Kenedy and Atsu to get behind Arsenal’s full backs who always push up and play high up the pitch ..we can get in behind and catch them. Simple !
Prediction .. 2-1. Newcastle United.