Newcastle are in the driver’s seat for a place in the Champions League next season. The Magpies sit in third due a superior goal difference over Chelsea and Aston Villa, who both won yesterday. A win today at Arsenal and Newcastle will in all likelihood clinch a top five finish.
The lads have fared quite well against the Gunners over the past few campaigns. Eddie Howe will want to leave nothing to chance on the final day and take all three points at The Emirates this afternoon.
This is the team Howe has named for this pivotal clash as Callum Wilson comes in for the absent Alexander Isak.
HOWAY THE LADS! ? pic.twitter.com/eITJuW9Ctg
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) May 18, 2025
Here is the link to Mikel Arteta’s selection for the hosts.
? ???????? ??
? Kiwior partners Saliba
? Rice in midfield
? Trossard leads the lineLet’s give it everything, Gunners ?
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 18, 2025
Howay The Lads!
822 comments so far
JohnJ
May 18, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Comment #1HOWAY the Lads!
JohnJ
May 18, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Comment #2Back of the net Magic!
JohnJ
May 18, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Comment #3Oh Bugga where’s Isak!
JaveaToon
May 18, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Comment #4Groin injury for Isak according to BeIn sports reporter at the Emirates.
Munster Mag
May 18, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Comment #5I let ye know re Botman.Thank you very much.
Didn’t know re Isak 🙁
Adamn_92
May 18, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Comment #6Wilson winner lets go!!
Fans are interesting aren’t they, a bunch have been saying Isak has been anonymous recently. Yet he misses todays games and we’re doomed.
Doomed yet he’s been off it and anonymous? Which is it? 🙂
Tough ask today, but no reason that team can’t go get the result.
HWTL
A Geordie Mongrel
May 18, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Comment #7Isak has a groin injury but according to the website we’re lining up 4-2-3-1
“Nick Pope is in goal, with Tino Livramento, Fabian Schär, Sven Botman and Dan Burn all lining up at the back.
Sandro Tonali anchors the midfield alongside captain Bruno Guimarães, with Jacob Murphy, Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes looking to supply Wilson in attack”.
magicmac54
May 18, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Comment #8John J
Quick off the starting grid today Sir John 😀
HWTL
Peckham Mag
May 18, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Comment #9Come on Wils, get that elusive 50th goal. He deserves it, and we need it.
Think we’ll see Osula off the bench as no way Wilson manages 90. We lose some scare factor without Isak but he has properly been off it in recent weeks… thing he still scores when he’s off it!
We’re not gonna get battered, I think it will probably be a draw but we may well win. Is it Burn at lb? Would prefer five at the back personally, worked so well against them last time.
Howay the lads!
Adamn_92
May 18, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Comment #10Peckham
Imagine it’s same shape and positions for everyone as the Chelsea game. Just Wilson in for Isak.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
May 18, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Comment #11Pity Isak is missing but he has struggled since the cup final. Not the player he was and in the final . Wonder if it was the high flick from which he nearly scored from is when he did something.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
May 18, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Comment #12Isak hasn’t really been good since after the final but he’s been played with whatever injury he has
Wilson needs to show a lot more than he has done as I still think Osula should’ve played more meaning he would be ready for games like this
Need Gordon to really step up as there will be chances on his side
jimiley
May 18, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Comment #13Wilson has not played more than 15 mins all season.
A whole game will be interesting.
JohnJ
May 18, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Comment #14Subs
Dubs
Kraft
Lascelles
Longstaff
Miley
Neave
Osula
Ruddy
Willock
2 keepers again!
Adamn_92
May 18, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Comment #15Not sure, but I’d be surprised if this Arsenal back 4 have played together more than maybe a couple of games.
So Barnes and Gordon’s movement could cause issues and Wilson does his best work in the box, finding space.
Those 3 should be able to cause some problems for that makeshift Arsenal defence.
Not another deJong
May 18, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Comment #16Need to see Wilson holding on to the ball and playing others in, something he has failed to do when coming on this season. But that maybe the character of the game, now he will need to show us his centre forward credentials to keep us in the game and hopefully make it 4 in 4.
jimiley
May 18, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Comment #17Saving Isak for next week.
Sensible.
Watching this one under the duvet
Not another deJong
May 18, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Comment #18don’t think wilson will last the full match
magicmac54
May 18, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Comment #19Forest 2 up now.
JaveaToon
May 18, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Comment #20I thought Botman being in was pretty logical, quite a few had him in their bingo teams anyway.
Pottsclock
May 18, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Comment #21To be fair, Isak hasn’t offered his usual stuff in the last few matches and clearly has been well below par. This is probably an injury he has had for a while.
Yes, Isak on form would be great – but he hasn’t been on form. But if resting him this game gives him a chance of coming back for the Everton match, which is more winnable, then it makes total sense.
It’s a shame Rice is back for Arsenal though.
Romford mag
May 18, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Comment #22Hope forest play like this against chelski
Essex Geordie Bill
May 18, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Comment #23I’ll stick this up as Neil always leaves the bit with the subs out 🙂
Newcastle United: Nick Pope, Tino Livramento, Fabian Schär, Sven Botman, Dan Burn, Jacob Murphy, Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimarães, Harvey Barnes, Anthony Gordon, Callum Wilson.
Substitutes: Martin Dúbravka, John Ruddy, Emil Krafth, Jamaal Lascelles, Sean Longstaff, Lewis Miley, Joe Willock, Will Osula, Sean Neave.
JohnJ
May 18, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Comment #24Magic,
You gotta be in it to win it 😀 🙂 😀
Essex Geordie Bill
May 18, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Comment #25Wonder if young Neave might get a run out at some point, he;s been on the bench a few times now so Eddie must like him.
jimiley
May 18, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Comment #26I am sure Wilson won’t last the whole match.
Osula will come on for last 20( or more)
I would rather it was the other way around.
magscar
May 18, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Comment #27We’ll need to get ball into Wilson a lot then
Hopefully his recent run outs have toned him.up a bit but it is a blow
Presumably with Gordon, Barnes and Murphy already starting Osula will get some game time as can’t see Wilson getting more than an hour although depending on Willock’s level of fitness he could come on and Gordon moves into striker? Eddie’s call
magicmac54
May 18, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Comment #28Jeez that voice of Carragher would give anyone a severe migraine, is that the best Sky can do when it comes to a co-commentator.
lochinvar
May 18, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Comment #29Arteta is a whinge.
Three players ‘injured’ but all suddenly fit to play.
Childlike
davetoon
May 18, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Comment #30Have a feeling Gordon will score today
catchy in norway
May 18, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Comment #31Well, Isak hasn’t played well in recent weeks, maybe fresh legs is what we need. I mean we carried Isak against Chelsea last week.
Romford mag
May 18, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Comment #32Magic
Could be slightly worse !
Could be Andy hinchcliff
Essex Geordie Bill
May 18, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Comment #33Loch he is probably a bit desperate and playing them with injuries!
JaveaToon
May 18, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Comment #34What a goal that was
davetoon
May 18, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Comment #35Can Forest choke
JaveaToon
May 18, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Comment #36For Bowen I mean 1-2
magicmac54
May 18, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Comment #37Romford Mag
In other words small mercies Rom 😀
Oh and i trust you enjoyed your birthday young fella.
HWTL
JaveaToon
May 18, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Comment #3810 minutes stoppage
JohnJ
May 18, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Comment #39WestbHam pulled one back – Bowen!
JaveaToon
May 18, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Comment #40Changed to 11 mins