Arsenal v Newcastle: Match Preview, Team News, Prediction

Newcastle and Arsenal go into today's match at the Emirates with both sides desperately needing a win but for totally different reasons; Arsenal to keep their title hopes alive, and Newcastle to stop an awful run of results and put any talk of relegation to bed.

Match Preview

Arsenal are at risk of losing three straight PL games for the first time in four years, a fate that befell the Toon in last weekend's home horror show against Bournemouth - making it four defeats on the spin in all competitions.

Both managers are under pressure; Arteta because he again could lose the title from a winning position, and Eddie because of a bad run that has left the team in 14th position in the League and needing a miracle to qualify for Europe.

Add in the fact that there is history between the management of the two camps - they aren't on each others Xmas card list that's for sure - and there is every reason why this game could be a blood and thunder battle with fouls and bookings aplenty.

In fact, that's what I want to see from whatever team Eddie puts out.

By that I mean the opposite of the flaccid display we saw against Bournemouth where we allowed them to go about their work almost unchallenged and unflustered.

I want to see an aggressive performance where we don't let Arsenal settle on the ball, give them a few whacks early doors to let them know we haven't come to mess around, and generally get right in their faces.

That's exactly the rallying call and fist shaking message that I hope Eddie has drummed into the lads on the training pitch this week.

The players need to show Eddie and us fans that they are hurting from recent results and there is no better place to show a response than in front of the arrogant Arteta and the 'full of themselves' Arsenal fans.

Plus, after the Mackems 5-0 defeat last night we still have a real objective that has to be chased to the last game - finishing ahead of that lot down the road this season.

Team News

Jo is still banned but Bruno is expected to start.

From Eddie's presser comments there appears to be more bench warming for Wolt and Wissa and with goals in his last two games it will be Osula leading the line.

Who will play wide of Osula is one for the Bingo entrants to second guess along with Botman or Burn and will Eddie start Miley, Ramsey or Willock for Jo and will Pope return?

Match Prediction

I've been throwing good money after bad with my fivers for most of this season with the bookies rolling out a red carpet as soon as they see me coming.

I've never bet against Newcastle losing - and never would - but bets are one thing and reality is another.

I wasn't confident at all before the Bournemouth game but I got the 2-1 scoreline bang on - the kicker was it was Bournemouth who got two not Newcastle so that was another bet down the pan.

Well, guess what?

My fiver is going on 2-1 to the Toon today and for some daft unexplainable reason I am more confident of that score and a win being correct than I was against Bournemouth.

I want to see 100% full on commitment and aggression to win from every Toon player on the pitch. Eddie and all fans will be looking for nothing less.

HWTL.

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