Suddenly struggling Arsenal will try to reclaim first place in the Premier League when they host a Newcastle United squad that also is slumping.
Arsenal (21-5-7, 70 points) have only one win in their last six matches (1-4-1) across all competitions, including back-to-back league defeats.
The latter, a 2-1 loss at Manchester City last Sunday, paved the way for City to move into first following their 1-0 win at Burnley on Wednesday. City earned the distinction based on the second tiebreaker of more goals scored.
It marks the first time since the very early stages that Arsenal haven’t occupied the league’s top spot. But manager Mikel Arteta says there’s not a significant change in mindset.
“No, because before the psychological effect was that we were getting chased for many months,” Arteta said. “So, what is better, what is worse? At the end of the day, we know what is the best thing: to win the next game. So the psychological effect is tough regardless of where you are because you have to win the game.”
Arsenal will be boosted by the expected return of Bukayo Saka, who has missed about a month with an Achilles injury. The Gunners have posted a 34-3-9 record in Saka’s 46 appearances across all competitions.
Newcastle United (12-15-6, 42 points) makes the trip to London mired in a four-match losing run that began with a 7-2 thumping at FC Barcelona in the second leg of a UEFA Champions League round of 16 series. (Barcelona won 8-3 on aggregate.)
The Magpies followed that with consecutive 2-1 defeats to derby rivals Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth, with the first and last of those at home.
“We’re all feeling that pain at the moment. It’s been a difficult period for us,” manager Eddie Howe said. “We’ve prided ourselves historically on if we lose a game, fighting to the end and giving everything to try and get a result. I feel the players are currently at the moment maybe lacking in a little bit of confidence. We’ve lost a bit of our normal regular flow and rhythm that we’ve had.”
Newcastle will continue without winger Anthony Gordon, set to miss a second straight league fixture with a hip injury.
But Bruno Guimaraes, who leads the Magpies with nine goals, could return to Howe’s starting lineup after he came off the bench in last weekend’s loss to Bournemouth to end a two-month absence caused by a hamstring injury.
–Field Level Media
–Field Level Media
