Once seen as firm contenders near the top of the Premier League table, Arsenal now find themselves in a more precarious position after a worrying dip in form. A return of just one win from their last six league games (D4, L1) has raised doubts about their staying power, and another defeat—this time against Newcastle—could see the Gunners drop further down the standings.
However, history offers hope for Mikel Arteta’s side. Arsenal have an outstanding record in home head-to-heads against Newcastle, having lost just one of their last 20 Premier League encounters at the Emirates (W17, D2). Even more impressively, they’ve claimed victory in 11 of the last 12. Yet this season has seen an unusual twist: Newcastle have already beaten the Gunners three times in all competitions, without conceding a single goal. No club has ever managed to defeat Arsenal four times in a single campaign—a record the hosts will be desperate to preserve.
Adding further weight to Arsenal’s hopes is their impressive record in season-ending home fixtures. They’ve lost their final home league game in only one of the last 27 seasons (W22, D4), and a draw here would likely be enough to secure a top-five finish.
But this Newcastle side will be no pushovers. With 22 points from the last ten Premier League rounds—second only to Aston Villa—Eddie Howe’s men travel to London in fine form. A confident 2-0 victory over Chelsea last weekend significantly bolstered their top-five ambitions, with Opta now rating them as 96% likely to secure European qualification.
Their away form still leaves room for doubt, with just two wins from their last six league road trips (D1, L3), but they’ve built a reputation for finishing strong. Newcastle are unbeaten in their last six final away league games of the season (W4, D2), including three wins in four against London-based opponents.
Players to Watch:
All eyes will be on William Saliba, who is in line to make his 100th Premier League appearance. A win would see him join club legends Lauren and Sol Campbell in reaching 68 victories in their first century of appearances. For Newcastle, Jacob Murphy has been a quiet but deadly force this season. He played a direct role in both Carabao Cup semi-final goals against Arsenal (G1, A1) and has notched 12 Premier League assists—double that of any other teammate.
Hot Stat:
Arsenal have led at half-time in 13 of their 18 home league games this season—an early edge could once again prove decisive.
