Arsenal vs Newcastle United Preview: Odds, Tips & Prediction

With what seemed like an almost unassailable nine-point lead at the start of the month, Arsenal are beginning to look nervously over their shoulders.

City are right on their coattails, and Mikel Arteta’s charges threw everything at City in a pulsating game at the Etihad, but they came up just short. They profited from a lapse in concentration from Gianluigi Donnarumma when Kai Havertz charged down his clearance which flew into the net. However, City upped the ante, and Bernardo Silva turned in a stunning performance.

Scoring from open play has been more trying in recent weeks, and the defeat to Bournemouth encompassed this. Arteta’s side need to be more aggressive from the off, but perhaps the Spaniard needs to be a little less frantic if his side are going to end their long wait to clinch the league.

Far from the high of last season, where they lifted the League Cup, Newcastle have failed to reach those standards, and they are currently 14th in the table.

Eddie Howe, who has largely done a terrific job, has come under the microscope, and there have been growing rumours that he could be replaced in the dugout in the summer.

Last weekend, the Magpies suffered another damaging defeat, this time at home to Bournemouth. Despite managing more touches in the penalty area than the Cherries, Newcastle failed to seize the initiative, and no team has conceded more late goals than Newcastle (19) this term.

Defending set-pieces well and being more inventive could be key to Newcastle leaving London with a positive result.