Newcastle United will look to end their winless run in the Premier League when they welcome Arsenal this weekend.
The Magpies haven’t won a top-flight match since a 2-1 victory over Wolves in September, and they are starting to slip down the table.
Newcastle are struggling in front of goal this year
Strangely, performances since the start of the season have improved, but Eddie Howe‘s men aren’t picking up points, and hopes of a European finish are starting to fade away.
Meanwhile, the Gunners will have William Saliba back from suspension, which will be a big boost for Mikel Arteta, and they’ll be looking to avoid back-to-back defeats to Newcastle at St James’ Park.
Last season, Arsenal were beaten 1-0 thanks to one of the most controversial goals of the year scored by Anthony Gordon.
It was a crushing blow in Arsenal’s pursuit of the title, and they’ll be looking to avoid anything similar here.
Newcastle vs Arsenal: Meek Magpies
Last season, despite finishing seventh, Newcastle were one of the highest scoring teams in the division.
The Magpies slammed home 85 goals, just one less than third-place Liverpool.
However, it was at the other end where they had problems, conceding 62 times.
Now that Nick Pope’s fit, the Toon’s defence has improved, but they’ve become poor in front of goal.
Alexander Isak has just two league goals, while he’s missed four big chances already and has also been injured.
Callum Wilson hasn’t played a single minute, while Anthony Gordon has also missed some huge opportunities, including a penalty in a goalless draw against Everton.
The Magpies are creating chances, but the players who were so good in front of goal last year aren’t this time, and that’s an issue that needs to be resolved.
Newcastle are one of the league’s lowest goalscorers
Newcastle have won two of their last three Premier League home games against Arsenal (L1), as many as they had in their previous 19 at St James’ Park against them combined (D7 L10).
Arsenal lost this exact fixture 1-0 last season but haven’t lost consecutive away league games against Newcastle since their first three such visits in the Premier League between 1994 and 1996.
Newcastle are winless in their last five Premier League games (D2 L3), losing the last two in a row. They last had a longer run without a victory in August/September 2022 (6).
Newcastle vs Arsenal: Date and how to follow
This Premier League game is scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 2.
Kick-off at St James’ Park is set for 12:30pm.
talkSPORT will have live and exclusive coverage from Tyneside, with Reshmin Chowdhury serving as your host.
Commentary will then come from Sam Matterface and England icon Stuart Pearce.
talkSPORT.com will also have all the action through our dedicated Premier League blog.
To tune in to talkSPORT through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
Arsenal produced a great performance against Liverpool but only managed a drawGETTY
Newcastle lost their last Premier League home match 1-0 against Brighton, ending a run of 11 games without defeat at St James’ Park. It was also the first time they’d failed to score in 23 home league games, last drawing a blank in consecutive such matches in February 2020 under Steve Bruce.
Arsenal have conceded nine goals in their last five Premier League games, more than they had in their previous 19 combined (8). Indeed, they’ve shipped 2+ goals in four of these five games, as many times as they had in their previous 27.
Having been unbeaten in their first 12 Premier League away games in 2024 (W10 D2), Arsenal lost 2-0 at Bournemouth last time out. They last lost consecutively on the road in May 2022, the second game of which came at Newcastle.
Newcastle vs Arsenal: Team news
The hosts will be sweating on Gordon’s fitness.
The England international pulled out of the 2-1 Chelsea defeat due to a groin issue, but a scan has revealed it’s not a serious injury, and he’s in contention to play here but might not be risked.
Wilson was expected back by now, but he’s suffering from tightness in his muscles, and the Toon are taking no risks.
Jamaal Lascelles and Sven Botman are still recovering from ACL injuries suffered earlier in the year.
For Arsenal, Saliba is back, but he might not be with his partner, Gabriel Magalhaes.
The Brazilian was withdrawn in the second half of the Liverpool draw and was sent for a scan after complaining he couldn’t run.
Martin Odegaard is definitely out, and he joins Jurrien Timber, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Riccardo Calafiori on the sidelines.
Saliba is back after his one-match Premier League ban for denying a clear goalscoring opportunityGetty
Arsenal have scored more set piece goals (excluding penalties) than any other team in the Premier League this season (5). However, 40% of the Gunners’ goals conceded have come via a set piece (4/10, excluding pens), the highest ratio in the division so far.
Newcastle have scored nine goals from an xG of 14.3 in the Premier League this season, netting roughly five goals fewer than expected – only Manchester United have a larger negative difference in the competition this term (8 goals, 14.8 xG).
Alexander Isak averages a goal every 133 minutes in the Premier League for Newcastle – only Andrew Cole (one every 121 minutes) has a better average for the Magpies in the competition. The Swede has also scored 11 goals in his last 11 league appearances at St James’ Park.
Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka has created more chances than any other Premier League player this season (27), while with three goals and seven assists he’s one of four players with double figures for goal involvements this term. Indeed, he’s either scored or assisted a goal in 10 of his last 12 league games, including seven of eight this season.
Newcastle vs Arsenal: What has been said?
Newcastle have yet to score from a corner this season, and Howe has addressed this.
He said: “I wasn’t necessarily aware of that stat presented like that, but I was certainly aware we haven’t scored from a corner.
“I think we’ve had chances, I hate to use XG but to try to be clever in my response, our XG from set plays isn’t too bad – it’s competitive so we should have scored at least one.
“I think it is a two-fold thing because I am well aware that we haven’t
been as potent as we have been previously.
“I think we’re missing a couple of key corner takers, Tripps [Kieran Trippier], for me, has been a consistent source of goals for us, an outstanding delivery whether that is wide free-kicks or corners.”
