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
Fenham to Chalfont
May 8, 2023 at 9:45 AM
Comment #721It didn’t seem as much as a terrible result after the manure result last night. Cheers the Hammers
ToonDarnSarf
May 8, 2023 at 9:45 AM
Comment #722Bruno’s struggling with that ankle injury. But we can’t afford to rest him with Longstaff out too. Maybe rest wouldn’t make a difference anyway, it could be a case of just managing it until he can get some proper treatment, maybe even minor surgery.
Respect to the lad who is almost certainly putting himself through pain to keep trying his best. I remember Shola doing that years ago and he never got the credit for it. SBR told the fans about it that he’d been doing it for months as he was the only available striker. Then there was Marcelino…
cleveleysbob
May 8, 2023 at 9:45 AM
Comment #723Happy Birthday Clinath@ed, pity about the result yesterday, could have made it better for you. 🙂
ToonDarnSarf
May 8, 2023 at 9:46 AM
Comment #724I find myself liking your posts again Fenham. Long may it continue!
Ty21
May 8, 2023 at 9:47 AM
Comment #725ToonDarnSarf
Did you even read or just browse through? No one said they are the same type. I was comparing the playable positions, he would suit Newcastle better than Gordon, considering he can play Gordon’s roles too. And yes, I would prefer him ahead of Longstaff. Like Longstaff, many overlooked the dirty job Paqueta is doing. He is among the best presser for West Ham and the most tackles won. Surely he is more creative than Longstaff.
JohnJ
May 8, 2023 at 9:48 AM
Comment #726What’s coming out quite clearly is how much we have missed Sean Longstaff in recent games!
The same Sean Longstaff who had been getting an awful lot of flack on this blog – just goes to show how much unseen work, by many, he’s been doing!
If a player is good enough for Eddie Howe he’s good enough for me!
All players can have an off day – Even Bruno did yesterday but just how much is his “injury” affecting his game eh? More than meets the eye in my opinion.
🙂
Ty21
May 8, 2023 at 9:51 AM
Comment #727I didn’t even say Paqueta will walk straight into the team, I said provide competitions.
Ace50
May 8, 2023 at 9:51 AM
Comment #728At least it looks like we will have Bruno for much longer 🙂
https://twitter.com/nicoschira/status/1655367713022246915?s=61&t=oE9r0YZuqCwo-geMmhvYtQ
Charlie in the Gallowgate
May 8, 2023 at 9:52 AM
Comment #729After the pen I think the ref lost where he was at and gave them a free kick
Longstaff is going for another scan they think the first scan missed something
Jail
Thought the team got over the pen second half Eddie most likely had words at half time
Let’s hope we break this 12-30 kick off hoodoo which seems to hang over us.
Fenham to Chalfont
May 8, 2023 at 9:53 AM
Comment #730NDJA
That’s a very good point why didn’t we get a corner after the non penalty. Saying that we never get anything from a corner anyway but still. Aye great spot that.
On corners I’m sure Eddie will be looking at players that can ping good corners into the box as the corners are looped in rather than swung in which are harder to defend. I’m sure we’ll be better next season, as we do get so many corners
Fenham to Chalfont
May 8, 2023 at 9:55 AM
Comment #731Happy Birthday Clinath@ed. have a good one Bonny Lad 🙂
Fenham to Chalfont
May 8, 2023 at 9:56 AM
Comment #732Good man TDS.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
May 8, 2023 at 9:56 AM
Comment #733Bruno
Do you not think the opposition have sussed him out. Likes to carry the ball out of defence so close him down and catch him in possession
My biggest gripe with the team is we have no one that can shoot from outside the box only Schar – we tend to yippie tapir along the edge. Biggest culprits are Big Joe, Bruno, Almiron snd Maxi
ToonDarnSarf
May 8, 2023 at 9:56 AM
Comment #734Ty21 – I still say that we needed a player like Gordon more than a player like Paqueta.
cleveleysbob
May 8, 2023 at 9:57 AM
Comment #735I’ve held back until now before commenting.
General opinion is that we played a decent game against the 2nd best team in the UK and we’re a bit unlucky.
Their passing was neater and faster than ours and picked out their man more often.
They really only scored once. That 2nd was a travesty.
Without Longstaff, we are hopelessly unbalanced and the idea of switching Joelinton across and playing Isak wide doesn’t help us. We need to find someone who does what Longstaff does, quickly (is there a player in U21’s?). We are a much better team when Joelinton is on Left wing and playing in front of Willock with Isak in the middle from the start.
Finally, the penalty should have stood for one simple reason. VAR is not there to re referee every incident. Detailed analysis lasting 5 minutes should only be for offside or Red card incidents. Apart from that, it should be a quick replay (in real time) to see if ref made a “clear and obvious error” – yesterday, he made an error, but this was only apparent after several replays of continuously slowed down images, so in real time neither clear or obvious – it should have stood. Oh and I’m not debating this. The above statements are factual and in line with current rules and advice. 🙂
The Taco Taker
May 8, 2023 at 9:59 AM
Comment #736Darnik,
To answer your question earlier I understand it is 5 up and 5 down in each FPL division.
Not another deJong
May 8, 2023 at 10:06 AM
Comment #737GUARDIAN – Newcastle to challenge for title soon?
The moment the takeover of Newcastle was permitted it became inevitable they would get good. But the speed at which it has happened remains surprising and, though Eddie Howe has done superbly to find a style that suits his circumstances, the most important aspects of any football team are talent and mentality. In Bruno Guimarães and Alexander Isak, Howe bought young, hungry players with everything to prove who elevated the level of his first XI by several orders of magnitude. Often a newly monied side must establish itself before attracting signings of such calibre, but their availability allowed Newcastle to improve faster than seemed possible, sending a message that they are for real. Even in defeat to Arsenal, they still showed plenty. If Howe can find a couple more players of similar quality, a title challenge is imminent – perhaps not next season, but soon.
DH
———————————————
A player that compliments Bruno and can fill in for him when he has a reoccurring ankle injury, is a definite.
Fenham to Chalfont
May 8, 2023 at 10:08 AM
Comment #738Bruno is definitely playing with an injury or it could even be the baby keeping him up at night (we’ve all been there). He seems to be getting dispossessed easier as he is not shielding the ball as well when he used to be a master at it and drew fouls.
The quicker we get Longy back the better as Bruno needs the lad in the engine room with him.
Bruno needs a nice break in the summer recharge his batteries get a good preseason and up another level next season. But we need Bruno to click again in the coming weeks to see us over the line, which I’m sure he will.
Mund
May 8, 2023 at 10:09 AM
Comment #739Tough game yesterday. It was a game of fine margins and it just didn’t swing our way.
Badly missed Lobby in the middle and we sure need a like for like in the summer for better squad depth.
Arsenal and Arteta came with a plan and that plan was to disrupt and bring frustration which they nailed to a T. The ref shouldn’t of bought into it but he did and that’s were we lost control.
We matched them in so many ways but in saying that we didn’t play to our best but that’s because of the disruption. Eddie will learn from this and come back stronger. Odegaard and Jorghino were unplayable yesterday. Games are won and lost in the middle and they sure did win that battle.
Bruno had his worst game for us and he was one of the most effected by Arsenals tactics. The lad doesn’t look 100% fit and I believe the ankle injury is holding him back. He just looks off the pace….
For all the negatives we could have easily drew this or won the game that’s how fine the margins were.
Eddie will grow stronger from games like this.
Onto Leeds which will be just as physical but we need a response and Eddie will have the lads fired up for that all week
Onwards and upwards
HWTL
Ty21
May 8, 2023 at 10:13 AM
Comment #740ToonDarnSarf
Why? Paqueta can play Gordon’s role, which he did for Brazil. The only argument you can provide is Gordon have more EPL experience, but from hindsight Paqueta is proving a more value buy than Gordon
Mund
May 8, 2023 at 10:13 AM
Comment #741Happy Birthday Clinath
Have a good day mate
HWTL
Mund
May 8, 2023 at 10:15 AM
Comment #742I’d have Paqueta over Gordon all day long
Paqueta gives us something we are missing
Fenham to Chalfont
May 8, 2023 at 10:16 AM
Comment #743Charlie,
I totally agree with what you are saying with regards to not having players that can hit a ball from outside the box (apart from Schar) – Mund you I thought Maxi done ok when he came on as he was cutting inside and I noticed a few times was looking to unleash a shot and nearly scored with one.
I think it was Adam and Taco who were discussing that NUFC have opened up talks to bring in the RB Liepzig lad Dominik Szoboszlai. I done some reading up on him and done a little Dennis Wise YouTube on him and I have to agree with them, this young man at 22 is the real deal, he is exactly what we want and boy, can he hit a shot. What a sweet right peg. Take a look at him, I hope NUFC trigger his £61m release clause:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=99gsI5g0ZJ4
Ty21
May 8, 2023 at 10:17 AM
Comment #744Ok, put performance a side. How is a player who can excel in more roles than another player not better?
Ty21
May 8, 2023 at 10:20 AM
Comment #745Agree with Mund, although Gordon might be able to play that no.10 role. Paqueta is a more established no.10
clinath@ed
May 8, 2023 at 10:21 AM
Comment #746Cheers lads, much appreciated. A win yesterday would have put the icing on my cake….but I’m fat enough anyway!
However this season finishes, it has been a great one.
Does anyone else get just as stressed about getting top 4 as they did anbout avoiding relegation .
Mund
May 8, 2023 at 10:23 AM
Comment #747Ty
Completely different players in my eyes.
If you’re talking about No10 then it has to be Paqueta. He might not of lit up the league but he has shown he can be a PL player and I think if he was in the black and white he would of excelled under Howe in our system
Fenham to Chalfont
May 8, 2023 at 10:23 AM
Comment #748Mund
Good analysis mate #738.
The lads must pick themselves up against a hippo heed Leeds.
As you say Eddie will have them really tuned in for this. I hope Longy is back for that game you can see how much we miss him.
Mund
May 8, 2023 at 10:24 AM
Comment #749Fenham
Might be bad news on Longstaff mate. Doesn’t sound to good. Hopefully he will be ok
the crown princes nashers
May 8, 2023 at 10:26 AM
Comment #750arteta pushed his 2 full backs into midfield but in a diamond formation, this alone stowed off the midfield and thats how they got to us, we did not match this, now if we had done the same then maybe different outlook to the match
if it had of been down to me then id have had isak on from the start and played another midfielder and tucked the full backs into midfield
the arsenal players where that busy on the floor playacting am shocked jorghino managed to get man of the match considering he was on the floor most of the game
I just think it was rotten luck thats the way it goes sometimes, this game is gone next is leeds and it wont be easy there either
Ty21
May 8, 2023 at 10:26 AM
Comment #751Anyway Paqueta is history, just feeling Newcastle kinda missed out there. Better ones out there.
Mund
May 8, 2023 at 10:27 AM
Comment #752Clinath
So stressed mate 😆
Tbh I’m more stressed about top 4 than I ever was about getting relegated.
We’ve come so far
the crown princes nashers
May 8, 2023 at 10:27 AM
Comment #753clinath@ed
happy birthday have a cracking day
clinath@ed
May 8, 2023 at 10:27 AM
Comment #754Paqueta, after a very slow start , is turning into the player we all thought he’d be.
the crown princes nashers
May 8, 2023 at 10:31 AM
Comment #755mund
dont be stressed over the top 4 its all in our own hands has been all season, we finish where we finish the way i see it, its a massive achievement the team has done this season with the guidance of eddie howe and his coaching staff and the help the owners have given them
Ty21
May 8, 2023 at 10:32 AM
Comment #756Mund
I’m talking about the possible playable positions, Paqueta just seems more value for money.
cleveleysbob
May 8, 2023 at 10:32 AM
Comment #757I’m pretty sure Wilson scored recently from outside the box and Isak has twice to my knowledge. The problem is not that we can’t, but that we don’t attempt to often enough.
We seem to be a bit like Arsenal under Wenger (trying to score the perfect team goal by passing it into the net) this is very pretty when it comes off but even with Wengers “invincibles” it was a rarity, so I’d rather see more shots from more positions personally.
Mund
May 8, 2023 at 10:33 AM
Comment #758Ty
I agree with that
Mund
May 8, 2023 at 10:34 AM
Comment #759Mark
Not overly stressed mate, just really want it to happen. I do think it’s in our hands tho and I do think we will see a big response at Leeds.
Take each one as it comes
cleveleysbob
May 8, 2023 at 10:36 AM
Comment #760ManU losing was just about the only bright thing this weekend. 😉
Hopefully, much better next weekend.