Arsenal vs Newcastle United

Runaway Premier League leaders Arsenal and newly-rich Newcastle United are set to face off against each other in a blockbuster league fixture at the Emirates Stadium to kick things off in 2023.

Arsenal cannot be stopped these days, with Mikel Arteta’s netting precisely twice on either side of halftime in an overwhelming 4-2 victory at Brighton on New Year’s Eve, making it five Premier League wins in a row. Arsenal’s stellar display at the AMEX Stadium, compounded by Manchester City’s home draw with Everton, catapulted the ‘Gunners’ seven points clear at the top of the tree, setting them up nicely for this tricky-looking challenge. Arsenal’s 100% win ratio in home league matches this season (W7) is about to be severely tested by high-flying Newcastle United, even though the hosts’ outrageous 11-game winning streak in competitive H2Hs tells a different story. But considering the Londoners boast an eye-catching record of 28 Premier League clean sheets against this opposition, the Emirates faithful will look forward to their team’s first top-flight outing in 2023.

Despite their underwhelming H2H fortunes against Arsenal of late, Newcastle United will take the field in a buoyant mood, inspired by a phenomenal 12-game unbeaten Premier League run (W8, D4). Though an uneventful 0-0 home draw with Leeds United on New Year’s Eve knocked the ‘Magpies’ down from an impressive streak of six straight league victories, the visitors can still lean on their recent performances in London. Eddie Howe’s lads have won their last two top-flight visits to the capital and could win three such match-ups on the trot for the first time since a run of four between 2013 and 2014. There’s every reason for optimism in the visiting camp as they’ve won their last three Premier League outings outside St James’ Park, notably scoring 2+ goals on each occasion.