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
Raj of Hailsley
May 18, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Comment #81I just came across a peterk on a comments thread and looked at his historic tweets. There’s not a chance in Hell this bloke supports the toon.
magicmac54
May 18, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Comment #82Our tactics look spot on so far, we just need to get to half-time at 0-0 and assess the situation for the second half.
HWTL
fray bentos
May 18, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Comment #83Positive Peterk! he’s such a joy, dislikes every local lad
Romford mag
May 18, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Comment #84Playing well without our main focal point tbf
Davas
May 18, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Comment #85Good half. Should be ahead. Arsenal, as usual, relying on corners
fray bentos
May 18, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Comment #86What a performance so far! to be the better team at the Emirates is no mean feat
If Isak was playing, we would have been winning, Wilson just not able to link up play like Isak unfortunately
peterk3
May 18, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Comment #87Osolu is an unknown to the prem league, he might just upset them as they dont know how to play him
Romford mag
May 18, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Comment #88Is the corner shop shut 🙂
Davas
May 18, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Comment #89No way osula was ever going to start an important game like this so it made sense to play wilson over oaula to try and get him match fit.
Pottsclock
May 18, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Comment #90Been the better team and should be leading but for some great saves frm Raya.
Gordon looks a bit rusty, Barnes looking far more in the game than him. Wilson has done ok and been disruptive.
Fingers crossed for second half.
Not another deJong
May 18, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Comment #91Lot of demand on the wing backs to get up & down, hope it does not catch us out. Wilson a little heavy footed and lacks sharpness to react, he might be able to smash one in if he try’s.
I can see Miley & Krafth coming on and going 433, hopefully with Osula up front.
Macas
May 18, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Comment #92Fray
Disagree about Wilson, think he has linked play pretty well so far today.
More of an unselfish plyer than Isak too.
Obviously Isak on form is the better player, but he hasn’t been on form for weeks.
peterk3
May 18, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Comment #93RAJ
I’ve supported the Toon since 1966. Been to fairs cup final, every FA cup game 1974 home and away and hundreds other games so don’t talk shite about what you don’t know.
lukes26
May 18, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Comment #94Osula on please. Callum is working hard, but he’s more interested in wrestling with defenders than just making a simple back pass.
osula isn’t fantastic at hold up play..but he has the pace that callum no longer has
Newcastle are far better than arsenal . a lot of this is down to Partey. He looked exhausted after 10 minutes. he’s leaving holes in the middle
magicmac54
May 18, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Comment #95This game is going pretty much as we anticipated in terms of Arsenal having loads possession, but it looks like their biggest threat is from corners, in contrast to Newcastle who look very dangerous on the counter attack.
lukes26
May 18, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Comment #96Macas …
Only the goalkeepers have made fewer passes in this game than Callum Wilson in that first half (7). He’s selfish on the ball. plus he’s not running into space. that’s why he’s not getting the ball in the first place
Charlie in the Gallowgate
May 18, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Comment #97Playing well if not getting overrun bit in mid at times
Gordon wish he would stand up a bit more – every time he is tackled goes down of shot.
Wilson doing ok lost a bit of pace – don’t mind him wrestling with players least their defence know he is there
IrishRob
May 18, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Comment #98Frey agree about Wilson….
IrishRob
May 18, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Comment #99Hope arsenal font come out better in the second half.
fray bentos
May 18, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Comment #100Macas
Don’t be daft, Wilson is nowhere near the same level as Isak when it comes to control, quick passing, one-twos etc, even when Isak is not at his best
There was a few moments when Barnes and Gordon made attempts for one/twos with him and he was unable to control the ball in the tight space and release, no diss at Wilson, not many players could, but Isak is not an ordinary player
Macas
May 18, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Comment #101Lukes
A striker in this game is never going to get loads of touches.
He’s laid the ball of pretty well so far and set up the Barnes chance too, nothing selfish about his play at all.
And for me he has been making decent runs as well.
peterk3
May 18, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Comment #102As usual Tonali having a blinder, he’s so classy.
Davas
May 18, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Comment #103Hope we can keep up the energy in the heat
lukes26
May 18, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Comment #104Macas
No he hasn’t. not me saying this. it’s that stats
He’s had 7 duels and lost all. https://www.fotmob.com/matches/arsenal-vs-newcastle-united/3c42by#4506583:tab=stats
Raj of Hailsley
May 18, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Comment #105peterk,
You’ve not a good word to say about us, that Tonali post was an anomaly.
IrishRob
May 18, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Comment #106I hope we could win it today because I’m very weary of Everton. They’re on a mad run. Big ask though, Arsenal will almost certainly be better second half.
lukes26
May 18, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Comment #107stats say he’s worst of either side (5.6 rating) in first half (Callum that is)
Macas
May 18, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Comment #108Fray
I simply said his link up play has been fine so far, and meant that Isak is off form so it’s not the end of the world for someone else to get their chance to see what they can do.
Can’t see any reason to knock his performance based on the first half, but everyone has their own opinion.
Raj of Hailsley
May 18, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Comment #109peterk,
Well this peterk has 1972 in his bio, so obviously not you but also peterk and the same constant put downs of every player and the team in general.
Macas
May 18, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Comment #110Lukes
I tend to watch the game, not the stats, and for me he’s been more than fine so far.
Would people be analysing Isak’s stats if he was playing? It’s likely he would lose challenges being up front on his own against a tough defence too.
peterk3
May 18, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Comment #111Raj
stop nit picking about other supporters on here. You know nothing so pi$$ off. When you grow up and start making constructive posts come back on.
Raj of Hailsley
May 18, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Comment #112magicmac54,
I think we need Osula’s speed up front, you can tell the MF are more than aware of Wilson’s limitations.
A. Guess
May 18, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Comment #113Going to plan so far, aside from a goal or two. If we can get a goal and lead, we could catch them on the break time and again with our pace and build an unassailable lead.
HWTL
fray bentos
May 18, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Comment #114Macas
I didn’t knock him, simply said we missed Isak being there instead
Raj of Hailsley
May 18, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Comment #115peterk,
I’ll stop nit picking when you stop slagging the players.
peterk3
May 18, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Comment #116Raj
well its not me im black and white through and through. It hurts like hell when we lose.
IrishRob
May 18, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Comment #117All arsenal far
davetoon
May 18, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Comment #118Arsenal have stepped up their pressure. Crucial period of the game
lukes26
May 18, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Comment #119Macas
I’m not saying Callum is ‘bad’ He’s a lethal poacher. You lose some possession by starting him though.
IrishRob
May 18, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Comment #120Plot twist! Jail wont ever stop picking on you regardless. It’s what he does.