Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
One of the most intriguing fixtures of Premier League Matchday 37 will take place this Sunday at London’s Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal host Newcastle United. Here’s a value bet on the outcome of this high-stakes clash.
Match preview
The London Gunners are enduring a rough patch, going winless in their last three Premier League outings. First, there was a frustrating slip-up against Bournemouth (1-2), followed by back-to-back draws with Crystal Palace and Liverpool — both ending 2-2. Despite this, Arsenal are firmly holding onto second place and can officially secure a Champions League berth for next season with just a draw in this upcoming fixture.
Even a single point will be enough to seal their spot in Europe’s elite, as their nearest challenger outside the top five, Aston Villa, trail not only in points but also have a drastically inferior goal difference — a deficit of 26 goals. Still, the recent run of results is hardly inspiring for Gunners fans: just one win in the last six matches (with four draws and one defeat) is not the form expected from a team with top-club ambitions.
In the previous round, Eddie Howe’s side picked up a crucial three points, confidently dispatching direct rivals Chelsea 2-0 in London. That victory propelled the Magpies to third in the table, three points clear of sixth-placed Aston Villa. Now, Newcastle have their sights set even higher — victory here would see them leapfrog Arsenal into a clear second place.
Newcastle’s attacking numbers deserve special mention: with 68 goals scored, they comfortably sit second in the league for offensive output. Howe’s men have hit remarkable form in the last nine Premier League games — seven wins, one draw, and just one defeat. Clearly, the Magpies have found their groove ahead of the season’s decisive run-in and are pushing for a sensational top-two finish.
Probable line-ups
- Arsenal: David Raya – Miles Lewis-Skelly, Ben White, William Saliba, Jakub Kiwior – Martin Ødegaard, Thomas Partey, Jorginho – Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, Bukayo Saka
- Newcastle: Nick Pope – Sven Botman, Valentino Livramento, Fabian Schär, Dan Burn – Jacob Murphy, Bruno Guimarães, Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes – Alexander Isak
Match facts and head-to-head
- In the reverse fixture, Newcastle defeated the Gunners 1-0 at home
- In the EFL Cup semi-finals, the Magpies beat Arsenal twice by a 2-0 scoreline
- The "Both teams to score" bet has only landed once in the last five meetings
Prediction
Newcastle simply cannot afford to lose — defeat would make Eddie Howe’s men’s quest for a Champions League spot much more complicated. Meanwhile, the Gunners can settle for a draw without any major risk to their league position. Our pick: "Newcastle to avoid defeat" at odds of 1.90.
