Newcastle United vs Arsenal preview: Can the Gunners overcome home woes?

Newcastle United host Arsenal in the sixth Premier League game today as the Gunners hope to break their St James’ Park curse.

The Magpies battled to a goalless draw against Bournemouth last time out and hammered lower-league club Bradford 4-1 in Wednesday’s midweek Carabao Cup match.

Arsenal also settled for a draw in their last Premier League game against Manchester City, as Gabriel Martinelli’s lob rescued a point late on for the North London club off the bench.

The Gunners were also in midweek action as they defeated Port Vale 2-0 in the Carabao Cup, and Eberechi Eze got his debut strike for the club, with Leandro Trossard also on the score sheet.

Match preview

Newcastle have won seven of their last nine Premier League games at St James’ Park, although those two defeats have come in their last three games.

Arsenal only have more Premier League wins against Everton (38) and West Ham (37) than Newcastle (36), while the 31 clean sheets they have kept against the Magpies are the most one club has kept against another in the competition’s history.

The Magpies have won four of their last five games against the Gunners in all competitions on their own turf, as many wins as in their previous 27. That means they are looking to win four successive home games against the North London side for the first time since 1969.

Newcastle have won just one of their last seven Premier League games (D3 L3), a run that started with a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal. They have failed to score in five of those seven games, as many times as they had in their previous 41 league games.

Only against Crystal Palace (7) does Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope have more clean sheets in the Premier League than Arsenal (6).

Team news

Newcastle United

Fabian Schar misses out due to concussion, while Jacob Ramsey is also unavailable with an ankle issue.

Yoane Wissa is yet to make his Newcastle debut due to a knee injury he suffered during international duty.

Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton are in contention to start after being rested against Bournemouth last game.

Arsenal

Captain Martin Odegaard could return after missing the last three matches due to a shoulder injury.

Madueke is unavailable for the visitors with a knee injury he suffered against City last game.

Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz are long-term absentees, as they miss out due to knee problems.

Piero Hincapie and Ben White also join the injury list.

Predicted line-ups

Newcastle United: Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Malick Thiaw, Dan Burn, Tino Livramento, Bruno Guimarães, Sandro Tonali, Joelinton, Anthony Elanga, Anthony Gordon, Nick Woltemade.

Arsenal: David Raya, Jurriën Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães, Riccardo Calafiori, Mikel Merino, Martín Zubimendi, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, Viktor Gyökeres.