Newcastle vs. Arsenal

Saturday November 2, 2024 and kick-off at 12:30 p.m.

Newcastle host Arsenal in a televised 12.30pm kick-off this Saturday and look to build on a stunning midweek win over Chelsea in the League Cup which has fans dreaming of a trip once again at Wembley.

A second home win in just four days would go a long way toward reviving a season that was in real danger of stagnating due to a poor run of results. Their opponents, however, will be hoping for three points which will keep the pressure on Liverpool and Man City at the top of the table, as they look to ensure it is a three-horse race for the title this season.

Form

It is claimed that after ten matches you can start to take a good look at the standings.

Newcastle have played nine so far and have had three wins, three draws and three defeats. Worryingly, the last six league matches have seen just one win and two draws, leaving United twelfth in the league. If all results go our way, we could reach the dizzying heights of eighth place, while a run of dreadful results could see us plummet all the way to sixteenth on goal difference.

Arsenal have also played nine matches, with five wins, three draws and just one defeat. They sit third in the league and are currently lamenting late equalizers scored by Man City and Liverpool, which have kept them below their title rivals. In their last six matches they have won three and drawn two, with a poor defeat at Bournemouth showing that there may be nothing to worry about for the black and whites this weekend if we can fire at full throttle.

Last time

Both teams tasted League Cup success in midweek, earning a place in the League Cup quarter-finals. Newcastle’s superb home performance against Chelsea provided a much-needed reprieve for Eddie Howe. A 2-0 victory establishing a home draw with Brentford.

Arsenal went to Preston and ran out comfortable winners. Their 3-0 victory paves the way for a London derby at home against Crystal Palace in the next round.

In the league, Newcastle’s last match ended in a 2-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge and Arsenal drew 2-2 at home against Liverpool.

Statistical attack!

Newcastle have won two of their last three home matches with Arsenal, scoring three goals in the process.

Arsenal are the only team in Premier League history to give away a 4-0 lead. It was at St James’ Park against the Toon in 2011 (more on that later).

The last eleven league matches between the sides at St James’ Park have seen three Newcastle wins and eight Arsenal wins. The last draw was 0-0 on the opening day of the 2011/12 campaign.

Newcastle beat Arsenal at home eight times during the Premier League era.

Memorable match

We’ve had some crackers against Arsenal over the years, but this one perhaps tops the lot and it wasn’t even a win!

In February 2011, Arsenal arrived at Toon and took an early lead before United fans and players could even catch their breath.

Things were going to get worse, much worse, for the NUFC who found themselves trailing 3-0 in the first ten minutes. Three became four at halftime and the destination of the points seemed a foregone conclusion. Some fans were so pessimistic that they decided to leave SJP and missed out on one of the best forty-five minutes in our history.

Joey Barton got himself into a bit of trouble and managed to force an Arsenal player into a red card early in the second half. Things continued to go Newcastle’s way when the black and white were awarded a penalty with just over twenty minutes remaining.

Barton reduced the arrears but at 4-1 a comeback still looked highly unlikely.

Leon Best, however, had other ideas: after being denied a perfectly valid goal, he then headed home from close range and suddenly it was 4-2 with fifteen minutes to go and the belief began to grow that this could be a very special afternoon. .

After eighty-three minutes the referee spotted a shirt shot in the box and incredibly awarded the Toon another penalty which Joey Barton sent over, meaning the NUFC now had seven minutes to save a match that seemed dead and buried from the first seconds.

It was only a matter of time. Newcastle hit Arsenal’s goal and won an offensive free kick in the eighty-seventh minute. Barton launched a dangerous ball into the box which headed towards Cheick Tiote. It was at this precise moment that something magical happened. The onrushing Tiote unleashed a simply unstoppable volley from outside the area which flew into the net to send the stadium into pure ecstasy. As St James exploded, Tiote sprinted the length of the pitch and indulged in an epic knee slide, before finding himself at the bottom of a mass pile involving all eleven Newcastle players. The Arsenal fans who had spent much of the match chanting in front of the Toon Army could do nothing but watch in shocked silence.

Issue 256 – March 5, 2011

There was still time for more drama on both ends of the court. First, Kevin Nolan smashed a lovely strike just wide, before Van Persie had a goal disallowed due to a marginal offside decision. The final whistle was celebrated as a victory and the entire match was later released on DVD. Final score 4-4. Amazing!

Played for both

Joe Willock is an integral part of Newcastle’s midfield and it’s great to have him back and fully fit. This young man began his career with the Gunners before a highly successful loan spell on Tyneside saw him score in seven successive games and be bought for twenty-five million pounds.

Older readers may remember a certain Andy Cole who began his career playing a league match for Arsenal before being loaned to Fulham and then sold to Bristol City. Kevin Keegan broke the club’s transfer record when he spent £1.75 million on the striker in 1993. This is a number nine whose record stands up to everyone else’s – sixty-eight goals in eighty-four matches before being controversially sold to Man United in January. 1995 for British record transfer fee.

Some fans were so angry about the sale that they showed up at the stadium to demand answers, which Keegan provided, standing on the steps to explain his decision. King Kev would go on to sign Sir Les (and Alan Shearer the following year) as the performers came ‘so close’ to being English champions for the first time since 1927, but that’s a story for another day.

Even older readers may remember another famous number nine, Malcolm Macdonaldscoring a hat-trick on his home debut against Liverpool. This set the tone for one hundred and twenty-one goals and an appearance in the 1974 FA Cup final and the 1976 League Cup final before being sold to Arsenal for a third of a million pounds.

Managers

Eddie Howe after a 2-0 win against Chelsea –

“Our energy, quality and attitude were perfect. We needed a performance and a result, I think we got it tonight. Especially in the first half, I thought that was the mark of our best level; front foot, very good energy, good feeling, good quality, good attitude – the most important thing – and a massive win for us.

Mikel Arteta after 3-0 win at Preston –

“The attitude was very good. We talked about it, about playing with enthusiasm in this match, about playing with the right attitude and the right commitment and they certainly showed that, so I’m very happy to be in the quarter-finals.

Charity

The Newcastle United Fans’ Foodbank will once again be collecting opposite the Gallowgate and will gratefully receive food, cash and toiletries for those in need. Non-perishable foods and drinks (such as noodles, pasta, rice, canned goods, soup, cereals, syrup, long-life milk, etc.) as well as toiletries such as shower gel, shampoo, toothpaste and sanitary products are particularly interesting. Please give whatever you can, any donation is much appreciated.

For more information and/or to make an online donation, visit HERE.

Prediction

The feel-good factor will be staying on Tyneside with another positive result at St James’ Park this weekend and I’m backing us to get it.

I predict Arsenal will take an early lead, but the Toons will fight to reclaim a very well deserved point – Newcastle 1-1 Arsenal.