Arsenal vs Newcastle United – Predicted lineup and team news

Arsenal vs Newcastle United – Predicted lineup and team news

Arsenal look to reclaim their position at the top of the table as they welcome Newcastle United on Saturday evening.

Mikel Arteta’s side have dropped to second place after Manchester City’s midweek win over Burnley. The Gunners have lost their last two league matches against Bournemouth and City. That said, they are only trailing the leaders by virtue of scoring fewer goals. Reclaiming the summit is essential to keep the pressure on Pep Guardiola’s side. Arsenal have a strong home record against Newcastle, having not lost at the Emirates in thirteen meetings.

The North Londoners have found the net 99 times against the Magpies in Premier League history. They could become the third team to reach triple figures against five different opponents. However, their form in April has traditionally been a cause for concern under Arteta. The squad has won just forty points in twenty-seven games during this month. They must avoid a third straight defeat to stay firmly in the title hunt.

Arsenal team news

Mikel Arteta heads into the tie with a significant boost in the attacking department. Bukayo Saka is set to return to the matchday squad after missing five matches. He has not featured since the Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City. In his absence, Arsenal’s win ratio has dropped significantly from 73% to just 45%. Arteta confirmed that the winger has brought new energy to the training ground this week.

Riccardo Calafiori is also in contention to return after recovering from a recent injury. He last featured during the Champions League quarter-final victory over Sporting earlier this month. However, remains sidelined as he continues his recovery process. is also unavailable despite making progress following surgery on his foot. is pushing for a start after being named on the bench at the Etihad.