England League Cup Preview - Arsenal VS Newcastle United
England League Cup - Arsenal VS Newcastle United
Match Time:08-01-2025 04:00 Wednesday (GMT+8)
Football Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips
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Arsenal
The home side’s injury crisis deepened following their draw against Brighton, as Ethan Nwaneri was taken off at the half-time. The Gunners boss later confirmed the attacker had suffered a muscular problem, which will certainly keep him out of the Newcastle United game at the very least and possibly for longer, depending on the prognosis.
There are still unclear signs about Kai Havertz, who has missed back-to-back games with illness, and it remains to be seen whether he will recover in time for the cup clash. Neto remains ineligible for this competition, while Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling are all out for the time being. Jurrien Timber is available once again after missing the Brighton game through a one-match suspension.
Mikel Arteta would look to shuffle his pack a little depending on the availability of the remaining members of his squad. Jakub Kiwior and one of Oleksandr Zinchenko or Myles Lewis-Skelly would likely come into the manager’s thinking. At the same time, one of Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba are likely to start at the back.
Arteta will also stay cautious about overusing Thomas Partey from the start, as the midfielder is seen as the ideal cover for the right-back position, meaning Jorginho might start at the base of the midfield. Martin Odegaard should be fit to start, while Declan Rice will move to the left-hand side. Havertz might start from the bench, meaning a front three of Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard might start.
Newcastle United
Much like Arsenal, Newcastle United have their fair share of injury-enforced absentees ahead of this trip to north London. Nick Pope remains absent for the foreseeable future, meaning Martin Dubravka will continue on goal. Defender Jamaal Lascelles remains out with his long-term problem, while Fabian Schar will stay out with a suspension.
Sven Botman played at the weekend for the whole game after a long time out of the equation with a knee injury, as Eddie Howe might now risk starting him this soon. The game might be a chance for Lloyd Kelly to come in, while Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall are expected to stay in that back four alongside Dan Burn.
There are not many tweaks available for Howe ahead of this clash, although he could rest Bruno Guimaraes for Joe Willock to start against his former side. Alexander Isak, Jacob Murphy and Gordon are all expected to start, although Harvey Barnes could potentially come in for the latter.
Arsenal vs Newcastle United Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
Arsenal have a good historical record against Newcastle United and have won 85 out of the 194 matches played between the two teams, as opposed to Newcastle United's 70 victories.
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 13 matches in all competitions, with their previous defeat coming by a narrow 1-0 scoreline at the hands of Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League in November last year.
Newcastle United have won their last six matches in all competitions and have scored a total of 18 goals in these games, with their previous defeat coming by a 4-2 scoreline at the hands of Brentford in the Premier League last month.
Newcastle United and Arsenal have alternated between victory and defeat in their last four games against each other in the Premier League.
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Martinelli, Jesus, Trossard
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Dubravka; Trippier, Kelly, Burn, Hall; Longstaff, Tonali, Joelinton; Murphy, Isak, Gordon
Prediction: Arsenal 1-1 Newcastle United
Newcastle setting up at the Emirates to defend has worked before - see the 0-0 draw in January 2023 - and Howe may be tempted to adopt a more conservative approach with both Schar and the influential Guimaraes helplessly watching on. The goal-happy Magpies should not stick every man behind the ball while their attacking trio is in such scintillating form, but Arsenal are seldom outfought at the Emirates and are still finding routes to goal even in Saka's absence. Taking all of that into account, the first leg surely has a low-scoring draw written all over it, undoubtedly a better result for the Magpies before the return fixture at St James' Park on February 5.
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