Game Week 19 Predictions: Arsenal to underline title credentials against Newcastle

Arsenal's title credentials will be underlined with whatever they do against Newcastle on Tuesday when they meet the giant killers at the Emirates. (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

 

Arsenal vs Newcastle

Emirates Stadium

8:45pm

Arsenal fans can stop pinching themselves now, it’s still early days as we’re not yet in the second half of the season mathematically but by all standards and with due respect to the rest of the bunch, the Gunners are in the title race.

Arsenal beat Brighton in a highly competitive encounter on New Year’s Eve and despite having to hold on late on, benefitting from a VAR call that disallowed a Brighton goal correctly, the way Arsenal managed the game showed why they’re top of the league.

Newcastle is one of the best this season and that explains why they’re third on the log and with good cushion over fourth. Newcastle deserves all the respect they currently get and Arsenal cannot underrate them if they don’t want to be shocked.

For a team that was in the bottom three this time last year, with thoughts of relegation and survival, twelve months on, mixing it with the big boys and just two points behind Manchester City in second. It’s a testament to the hard work of Eddie Howe and his set of professional players.

The Gunners are clear favorite in this game but they must be wary of the discipline in the Newcastle ranks. Eddie Howe has assembled a team of hardworking lads that are playing for the badge and it will take more than normal approach to best them.

Arsenal is the second highest scoring side in the league and with the second best defense in the league while Newcastle boasts the best defense with Nick Pope keeping the highest number of clean sheets; make of that what you will and in fact, it gives the neutrals a fixture to savor.

How will they line up? Everyone is fit from the weekend games, only Gabriel Jesus is out for Arsenal and in his absence, Eddy Nketiah has scored twice in as many games. Arsenal will most likely turn out same way they did at Brighton and Newcastle will come out with same team that was held by Leeds United.

Arsenal holds a great record against Newcastle but the Magpies beat Arsenal 2-0 at St. James’s Park last May, a result that ended Arsenal’s top four dreams. Arsenal have it all to do on Tuesday night, to underline title credentials and to once again answer the critics. It’s in their hands now.

Verdict: Arsenal to win