LONDON — With Champions League qualification on the line and Premier League pride at stake, second-placed Arsenal host third-placed Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday in a pivotal late-season showdown.
A victory for either club would mathematically seal their place in next season’s UEFA Champions League, while also dealing a psychological blow in the battle for supremacy beneath title favorites Manchester City. Eddie Howe arrives in North London eyeing an unprecedented fourth win over Arsenal in a single campaign — a feat no club has ever achieved.
Despite securing a credible 2-2 draw at Anfield against reigning champions Liverpool, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta cut a furious figure post-match, slamming his side’s lethargic first-half performance that saw them trail 2-0. Goals from Gabriel Martinelli and the now-suspended Mikel Merino salvaged a point, but Arteta remains concerned by his team’s recent collapse in form.
The Gunners have now gone five consecutive matches without a win across all competitions and are struggling to assert themselves at home, where they have failed to win any of their last four fixtures. A third straight home loss — something not seen since late 2019, when Arteta had just taken the helm — looms as a worrying prospect.
Still, Arsenal remain on the brink of Champions League qualification, with a top-five finish nearly assured barring a dramatic late-season collapse. If Aston Villa fail to beat Tottenham on Friday, Arsenal could secure their return to Europe’s elite by the time they kick off.
While Arsenal are faltering, Newcastle United appear to be peaking at just the right moment. Last week’s 2-0 win over Chelsea featured standout performances from midfield anchors Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes, and extended their scoring streak to 11 matches in all competitions.
However, away form remains a concern. Howe’s men have picked up just two wins from their last six Premier League road games. Not since the 2017-18 season have they lost their final away fixture of a top-flight campaign, and they’ll be aiming to preserve that record while making history at the Emirates.
The Magpies are also chasing a unique milestone: becoming the first team to beat Arsenal four times in one season, including domestic and cup competitions.
Arteta will be without Mikel Merino, who is suspended after his red card at Anfield. Also missing are Gabriel Jesus (knee), Jorginho (chest), Gabriel Magalhaes (hamstring) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee).
On a more positive note, the trio of Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, and Leandro Trossard — all recovering from hamstring issues — participated in training on Wednesday. Arteta remains cautious, but their involvement on Sunday hasn’t been ruled out.
Should none of them start, Oleksandr Zinchenko may step into midfield, while Ethan Nwaneri, Raheem Sterling, or Kieran Tierney could see action on the left flank.
Newcastle also face lineup uncertainty. Sven Botman came off injured during the Chelsea win with a knee issue, and Howe has admitted he’s a doubt. Joe Willock (thigh) faces a similar fitness race, while Kieran Trippier (calf), Matt Targett (thigh), Joelinton (knee) and Lewis Hall (foot) remain sidelined.
Jamaal Lascelles, returning from an ACL injury, made the bench last week and could step in if needed, although Emil Krafth is more likely to start alongside Dan Burn and Fabian Schar in defense.
Predicted Lineups
Arsenal Possible XI:
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Zinchenko; Saka, Martinelli, Nwaneri
Newcastle United Possible XI:
Pope; Krafth, Schar, Burn; Murphy, Tonali, Guimaraes, Livramento; Barnes, Gordon; Isak
Prediction: Arsenal 1-1 Newcastle United
Given both clubs are nursing key injuries and carrying inconsistent form into the clash, a draw seems the likeliest outcome. Arsenal’s uninspiring Emirates run and Newcastle’s defensive absences may cancel each other out, with a 1-1 draw keeping the top-four race alive but tense.
