Premier League: Gunners Have the Magpies in Their Sights

Newcastle United vs Arsenal

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal visit Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United on Sunday, hoping to get back on the winning trail.

After drawing 1-1 with Manchester City last week, the Gunners could be eight points behind leaders Liverpool when they kick off at St. James’ Park, and that makes this Premier League clash a must-win game for the visitors. And as things stand, this is a 13^th versus second-place clash. Liverpool are away at fifth-placed Crystal Palace on Saturday, which is by no means an easy trip, but the Reds have found a way of winning without being convincing, scoring late winners in all but one of their league victories so far.

The Premier League 2025 betting odds say that Arteta’s men should pick up the three points they need, but the Magpies will have plenty to say about that after picking up a useful way to high-flying Bournemouth last week, and the hosts have a key man on the way back.

 

Talking Points

Gordon back for shot-shy Magpies

With just one win from five league games, Newcastle have made a much slower start than Howe would have wanted. And while the Geordies have been devilishly hard to break down, conceding just three goals in their five league games, they have only scored three (only 18^th-placed Aston Villa have scored fewer), and two of those in a heartbreaking loss to Liverpool, who scored an injury-time winner.

But while the visit of Liverpool was a tough night for the Magpies, it was a disaster for playmaker Anthony Gordon. The England winger was sent off during Newcastle’s loss to the Reds, and he has sat out the last three league games: two goalless draws and a 1-0 win over bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers.

He scored Newcastle’s goal in their 2-1 Champions League defeat to Barcelona last week, and Gordon has promised his teammates he will make up for his Premier League absence, and that is music to the Magpies fans’ ears.

It’s also good news for summer signing Nick Woltemade, who is likely to step in to lead the line as Newcastle try to come to terms with the loss of Alexander Isak, who transferred to Liverpool. Another summer signing, Yoane Wissa, remains sidelined, and that makes Gordon’s return all the more important.

Newcastle’s trip to Bournemouth last week turned out to be a morale-boosting draw, and after the Magpies beat Bradford 4-1 in the Carabao Cup in midweek, maybe things are starting to look up on Tyneside.

 

Odegaard is pushing for a return

Arsenal’s draw against Manchester City last week showed a different side to the Sky Blues, who defended deeply out of character to protect a one-goal lead, but it also showed how relentless the Gunners can be when the pressure is truly on. If they had lost that game, Arsenal would have been in danger of slipping too far away from Liverpool, but they found a way, and Gabriel Martinelli scored a brilliant leveller to earn a vital point.

The Gunners have missed skipper Martin Odegaard in recent weeks while he has been nursing a shoulder injury, but the Premier League 2025 news from the Emirates is that the creative midfielder is ready to return.

With the confirmation that Noni Madueke will miss a few weeks having injured his knee last week, Odegaard’s likely comeback is a boost, and he can line up alongside Eberechi Eze, who has scored a goal and made an assist in his last two games, and the fit-again Bukayo Saka. And with Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz still out injured, Viktor Gyokores will lead the Gunners’ attack.

 

History

The Gunners have had the better of the head-to-heads through the years, with 86 wins to the Magpies’ 72, and there have been 39 draws.

But Arsenal are aiming to win a league game in Newcastle for the first time since 2023. Their early-season form is stronger, with four wins, one draw, and one defeat from the last six games, while the Geordies have won two, drawn two, and lost two.

 

Betting Tip

The Gunners are SBOTOP favourites to win this game at odds of 2.05, while Newcastle can be backed at 3.50, and the draw is 2.96. While the Magpies have only picked up one win, they have been hard to beat, accumulating three draws, and I don’t think Arsenal will find it easy to break them down.

While I suspect the Gunners will edge a narrow win, I’m expecting a tight, low-scoring game and a lot of tension as Arsenal try to hold onto Liverpool’s coattails.

   

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