Arsenal take on Newcastle United in what is a big game for both sides.
The Gunners’ aim this season was to win the Premier League title, while the Magpies only wanted to get back into the Champions League.
Mikel Arteta’s men have failed in their pursuit, and to make things worse, Newcastle could pip them to second place if they beat Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday.
The Toon have already beaten the Gunners three times this season, but can they do it again? Gary Neville has had his say.
-
Sunday
18th
May
Gary Neville predicts Arsenal vs Newcastle United result
Arsenal will go into the game against Newcastle United having won just one of their last six games in the Premier League.
Arteta’s focus during that run was on the Champions League, but defeats in both legs against PSG have made their league form look even worse now.
Arsenal and Newcastle are separated by just two points, and the game at the Emirates on Sunday will likely determine who will finish second.
A win for the Gunners will seal that spot, but a defeat will make the Toon the favourites to finish as the runners-up in the Premier League.
Speaking about the game on The Overlap US, Neville, surprisingly, backed Arsenal to get the job done against the Magpies and seal second place.
He said: “I feel quite strongly that Arsenal are going to win. I think they will secure second place. I think they will have had enough time.
“That was a big second 45 minutes at Anfield, and it will really give them a lift. I think he (Mikel Arteta) will have given them a few days off at the start of the week, and they’ll come back mentally a little bit fresher.
“The big thing on Sunday is that if Arsenal win, they do get second place confirmed and that’s big. It means they can relax in the last week of the season and almost half go on holiday a little bit.
“I just think there’s enough on this game with the Arsenal fans there… I think Arsenal will win 2-1.”
Arsenal’s recent record against Newcastle is so bad
Newcastle United have been on the up since Howe took charge of the club.
The Magpies are no longer an easy side to beat, and they have picked up some big results against the top sides over the last few seasons.
Arsenal’s recent record against the Toon is not great at all.
Date | Competition | Result |
November 4, 2023 | Premier League | Newcastle win 1-0 |
February 24. 2024 | Premier League | Arsenal win 4-1 |
November 2, 2024 | Premier League | Newcastle win 1-0 |
January 7, 2025 | Carabao Cup | Newcastle win 2-0 |
February 5, 2025 | Carabao Cup | Newcastle win 2-0 |
Newcastle have beaten Arsenal in four of their last five meetings and have kept clean sheets in all of those victories over the Gunners.
Alexander Isak caused all sorts of problems to William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes in the Carabao Cup, and he will be the main man again.
It will be interesting to see how the clash will pan out, but if Neville’s prediction comes true, Arsenal can put their feet up and relax before the final game of the campaign against Southampton.