Below is the team Eddie Howe has named for this evening’s pivotal match against Arsenal at St. James’ Park. This lineup features one change from the 3-1 win against Southampton last weekend with Alexander Isak in for Anthony Gordon.
HOWAY NEWCASTLE! ?#NEWARS pic.twitter.com/gogUEC8Bif
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) May 7, 2023
Eddie Howe has started with the dynamic duo of Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak. Presumably, the system won’t change with Isak playing on the left. The bench gets a boost with the return of Allan Saint-Maximin though Sean Longstaff remains unavailable.
Here is who Mikel Arteta has selected for the Gunners.
? ???????? ??
? Gabriel fit to start
?? Xhaka in the middle
? Martinelli returnsCome on you Gunners! pic.twitter.com/Hp26NeWjLw
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 7, 2023
Newcastle have another chance of enhancing their claim for Champions League football next season. It is shaping up to be a tight race for the final two coveted spots in the top four.
This match also holds implications in the title race. Arsenal may have to take all three points for any lingering hope of their first Premier League title in two decades. This is one massive match in May at St. James’ Park.
Howay The Lads!
866 comments so far
Raj of Hailsley
May 8, 2023 at 7:37 AM
Comment #681I meant to say their quality of chances was better than ours.
Raj of Hailsley
May 8, 2023 at 7:50 AM
Comment #682Good words from the vice captain
https://twitter.com/NUFC/status/1655290150442741761?s=19
Darnik
May 8, 2023 at 7:54 AM
Comment #683Fine margins is exactly right, That game could have easily been 3-3 and nobody would have complained, We went toe to toe with a very good side and held our own, The difference being the rub of the green imo not the gap in quality some of their players have over ours
Raj of Hailsley
May 8, 2023 at 7:58 AM
Comment #684Darnik,
I wish the penalty incident never happened, it wasn’t a pen so fair enough but I think it took away a bit of belief and insltilled a bit of not our day in to our heads, especiallyafter not long hitting the post. Surely that should be a drop ball after that though, not given back to their keeper???
Raj of Hailsley
May 8, 2023 at 8:01 AM
Comment #685Alan Shearer,
“Well done Arsenal. Best team won on the day. Newcastle didn’t take their chances when they had them, Arsenal did. Solid away performance from them. #NEWARS”
https://twitter.com/alanshearer/status/1655263508794077185?s=19
Can’t really argue with that.
magicmac54
May 8, 2023 at 8:02 AM
Comment #686Morning Folks
Craig Hope
Giving his post match views on the game yesterday HWTL.
https://youtu.be/px2mkOtRGaM
Darnik
May 8, 2023 at 8:03 AM
Comment #687Jail
They always give uncontested now and I preferred the good old drop balls, on the penalty, that’s exactly what I said to myself having hit the bar earlier so the players must think about it too
Raj of Hailsley
May 8, 2023 at 8:08 AM
Comment #688I seen a few bloggers complaining about Arsenal’s ‘dark arts’
Really!! 🙄
Darnik
May 8, 2023 at 8:28 AM
Comment #689How many team’s are getting relegated from each division in the H2H?
Moonraker15
May 8, 2023 at 8:30 AM
Comment #690Charlie I think if you get knocked out of the CL you drop down into the Europa cup! So best of both worlds! I think!
Raj of Hailsley
May 8, 2023 at 8:30 AM
Comment #691Eddie Howe on #NUFC’s 2-0 defeat:
“Fine margins for us today and we just came out on the wrong side of them.
We missed some big chances in the game and it just wasn’t quite there for us. I am sure I will look back at some moments and rue some moments we didn’t get quite right.”
geordie157
May 8, 2023 at 8:35 AM
Comment #692I think Shearers comments were spot on but 2-0 maybe flattered Arsenal a bit. However Pope also saved us several times.
We did miss Longstaff, Bruno and Willock struggled a bit at times.
Leeds next which won’t be easy. 7 points from 4 games, we should be alright.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
May 8, 2023 at 8:35 AM
Comment #693Jail
Agree the penalty call changed the game – got it in our heads we were robbed and forgot about football and more about kicking the opposition which played into their hands
Could of easily been 3or 4 down if not for Pope
Second half got back to laying football
Raj of Hailsley
May 8, 2023 at 8:37 AM
Comment #694Aye, just one of those days, Leeds aren’t going to enjoy playing us after that.
Raj of Hailsley
May 8, 2023 at 8:39 AM
Comment #695I think it’s easy in hindsight to say it was a mistake playing Isak and Wilson together but they changed the game starting the second against Soton, had that first gone in and we go on to win then it’s not a mistake.
Hibbit
May 8, 2023 at 8:40 AM
Comment #696disappointed of course we are but on the day the best team won,
really not sure about this Wilson – Isak combination from the start,
when Bruno’s not on form were not on form, lot of talk yesterday of an ankle op as soon as the season ends.
Sean Longstaff is also a very big miss on days like that far bigger than a lot on here lie to admit,
clinath@ed
May 8, 2023 at 8:41 AM
Comment #697Birthday today.
64 years young.
Hibbit
May 8, 2023 at 8:41 AM
Comment #698*like to admit*
Raj of Hailsley
May 8, 2023 at 8:41 AM
Comment #699Charlie,
I doubt Eddie and the lads will be dwelling on it, four games to get seven points, it’s in our hands.
Darnik
May 8, 2023 at 8:42 AM
Comment #700Happy birthday Clint have a good one mate
Hibbit
May 8, 2023 at 8:43 AM
Comment #701happy birthday clinath enjoy
Raj of Hailsley
May 8, 2023 at 8:43 AM
Comment #702“Sean Longstaff is also a very big miss on days like that far bigger than a lot on here lie to admit”
Exactly, too many entrenched in the view that he’s ‘championship’ standard or the ‘weakest link’ and not prepared to change that view for want of admitting they were wrong.
Raj of Hailsley
May 8, 2023 at 8:43 AM
Comment #703Happy Borthda clinath@ed 🙂
Raj of Hailsley
May 8, 2023 at 8:46 AM
Comment #704I hope he’s back for Leeds.
Raj of Hailsley
May 8, 2023 at 8:52 AM
Comment #705Reet off for a cup of tea and back at dinner time.
Hasta la pasta
😀
sparky55
May 8, 2023 at 9:24 AM
Comment #706I saw something on newsnow newcastle yesterday that suggested longstaffs out for the rest of the season….I sincerely hope its a load of tosh!
Ty21
May 8, 2023 at 9:24 AM
Comment #707Damn, the more I look the more I feel Newcastle missed out on Paqueta. A more sensible buy than Gordon as well, because he can cover multiple roles, even deeper roles. Paqueta would have been a perfect competition for Newcastle’s midfielders. Almost matching Joelinton’s output at both ends, although it’s because West Ham have more defending to do.
sparky55
May 8, 2023 at 9:29 AM
Comment #708Happy birthday Clinath…coming to the conclusion there’s a quite a few of us on here who are of a certain age and who look at this adventure through different lenses.
Enjoy your day Clinath!
Toonarmy of Frogs
May 8, 2023 at 9:32 AM
Comment #709Shame we lost a tight game.
Never in such a long time have I seen a game played at such a slow pace.
Arsenal edged it. But it shows we have work yet to do.
Bruno clearly avoided hitting the ball hard with his right foot so his issue is pretty obvious now.
Missed longstaff.
Performers were Murphy and ASM and Gordon looked lively when they came on (especially since it was a stop start slow game).
Can’t win them all. But still need a few wins to be sure we get a good final league place.
sparky55
May 8, 2023 at 9:33 AM
Comment #710Ty21
I was saying the same thing while watching the west ham game yesterday…he was all at sea pre world cup but has shown why he’s Brazils go to centre mid since after the WC …he’s showing his obvious class now and it would appear Lord Scattercash was bang on the money! 😉
Shame he used the wrong cheque book and it bounced!…Bruno and Paqueta would be mint together
ToonDarnSarf
May 8, 2023 at 9:34 AM
Comment #711From a Liverpool fan’s standpoint (my brother who we’re visiting right now) the weekend couldn’t have gone any better. He’d far rather Liverpool and Newcastle get the top 4 spots than Man Utd get in there. Obviously, he’s also hoping we lose as he wants Liverpool to overtake us but given the choice of Man Utd or us to join them in the CL and it’s a no brainer for Liverpool fans.
The Highlander
May 8, 2023 at 9:36 AM
Comment #712https://twitter.com/90sfootball/status/1655210881779744768?s=20
Ruined this cereal now.
Ace50
May 8, 2023 at 9:36 AM
Comment #713Some of the work the NUF do, with Anthony Gordon visiting: https://twitter.com/nu_foundation/status/1655479788524453888?s=61&t=oE9r0YZuqCwo-geMmhvYtQ
ToonDarnSarf
May 8, 2023 at 9:36 AM
Comment #714Gordon and Paqueta are completely different players. Plus, Paqueta was bought last summer not in the winter like Gordon.
Considering our midfield options of Bruno, Longstaff, Willock, and Joelinton have done well this season I’m a little confused where people think Paqueta would have fitted in. Would he have replaced Longstaff? No thanks, I love seeing his progress.
Paqueta is a decent player but you can’t have 12 players on the pitch and I don’t believe he’d have been the right signing last summer, not at all.
JohnJ
May 8, 2023 at 9:39 AM
Comment #715clinath@ed
May 8, 2023 at 8:41 AM
Comment #695
Birthday today.
64 years young.
Birthday Greetings Bonny Lad!
🙂
Ace50
May 8, 2023 at 9:40 AM
Comment #716Will be listening to this later. High Performance podcast with Tripps: https://twitter.com/mrjakehumphrey/status/1655478026023337985?s=61&t=oE9r0YZuqCwo-geMmhvYtQ
ToonDarnSarf
May 8, 2023 at 9:41 AM
Comment #717Arsenal were the best team on the day because they were more clinical. The actual balance of play was very even.
On another day, Murphy’s shot creeps in, Odegaard hits the post, Schar clears the cross rather than an OG, and Willock puts that shot through Ramsdale’s legs for a 2-0 win and people say the opposite – Toon won because they were more clinical.
check the toastie
May 8, 2023 at 9:43 AM
Comment #718Teams have wised up a bit to Bruno, he does dwell on the ball.
Lately has been giving the ball away much more often. Needs a break and then a proper full preseason to get sharper than he ever has been.
If we get champo’s league i would expect Rice to come thru the door. He has grown on me lately and reckon Eddie could transform his game.
Big Joe struggles a touch in Seans midfield spot. Generally plays a bit higher up the pitch and teams seem to find space easier against us. If Sean is out then we might struggle to get over the line yer know.
Gunna be a nerve racking end to the season.
Fenham to Chalfont
May 8, 2023 at 9:43 AM
Comment #719Morning all,
Unlucky yesterday as it just wasn’t going to be our day, when we were awarded the penalty then rightly taken away, our boys went into their shells a bit and Arse grew in confidence. It’s a game of fine margins.
The lads dust themselves down and bounce back which they’ve managed so brilliantly all season after a loss. We win our next game CL is ours it’s that simple.
I really hope Longstaff is fit for the next game. Again we missed him yesterday. Eddie says he gives the team that much better balance and it showed again yesterday. I’ve not read any reports or updates on how he is, will be available next game etc. ?
Not another deJong
May 8, 2023 at 9:44 AM
Comment #720If it wasn’t a penalty, which I agree was not, why was it not a corner?
Where did the ball end up?