Newcastle United vs Arsenal

One of the highlight fixtures of Premier League Gameweek 11 pits Newcastle United and Arsenal against each other at St James’ Park.

Newcastle United showed why many consider them a force to be reckoned with by humbling Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford in midweek League Cup action. Following an underwhelming four-game Premier League start (W1, L3), Newcastle’s bid to replicate last season’s top-four finish is off and running, with the ‘Magpies’ stitching together six consecutive unbeaten league games (W4, D2), bookended by a 2-2 draw at Wolverhampton last weekend. Despite starting this round as the division’s joint-most prolific side with 26 goals, Eddie Howe’s men have a point to prove after failing to get on the scoresheet in both top-flight H2Hs against Arsenal in 2022/23 (D1, L1). Since they’ve won their last three home league outings ‘to nil,’ one goal could do the trick, although it’s worth noting they’ve lost four of their five most recent H2Hs on Tyneside (W1).

In the meantime, Arsenal slumped to a woeful 3-1 League Cup defeat at West Ham in midweek, but Mikel Arteta took the opportunity to rest numerous first-team stars following a 5-0 demolition of Sheffield United last weekend. That result helped the ‘Gunners’ stay within a two-point distance of Premier League leaders Tottenham as one of just two sides yet to lose in the division this term (W7, D3). Arsenal’s away form in 2023/24 consolidates their bid to end a two-decade title wait in the Premier League, with the London heavyweights winning their first three top-flight games on the road. That run came to an unexpected halt at Stamford Bridge last time out as Arsenal hauled back a 2-0 deficit to draw 2-2 against cross-city rivals Chelsea.