The Premier League weekend concludes with the Monday Night Football this week and it is a huge one in the race for Champions League football next season with Newcastle United playing host to Arsenal at St James’ Park.
Arsenal watched on as rivals Tottenham picked up a win on Sunday and if they are to have their top four destiny in their own hands going into the final day of the season then they have to respond in kind here. Newcastle are playing solely for pride.
Where to watch
The match will be shown as part of the Monday Night Football programme which will be on the Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football channels. The show begins at 7pm with kick off at St James’ at 8pm.
Newcastle United
Given where they were at Christmas, for Newcastle United to be safe and able to play out their season with matches to spare is a remarkable effort which probably hasn’t got the credit it deserves. I suspect that is because the wider media don’t want to credit anything to do with the Saudis. That is understandable but there is no doubt that those who have competed for them on the pitch have had a wonderful second half of the season.
The Magpies go into this match off the back of successive defeats but before we jump all over them and accuse them of being on the beach, those two losses were against Liverpool and Manchester City, by far the two best teams in the country. Prior to the loss against Liverpool, Newcastle had won their last six home games and were really on a roll. This is their final home game of the season so they will want to sign off in front of their fans on a high.
Arsenal
This season has been one of ups and downs for Arsenal but they were in a position on Thursday night where they could confirm a return to the Champions League next season. They completely fluffed their lines and will now need to find successive wins to end the season in order to guarantee playing with Europe’s elite next term. That will need to begin here and it will require a much improved performance to the one they put on against Tottenham on Thursday.
One issue for Arsenal is their away form. They have lost almost half of their league matches on the road this season and of those eight defeats they have stunk the place out on a couple of Monday nights at Everton and Crystal Palace. This Arsenal side offer up signs of encouragement when they are good but when they are bad they are beyond terrible and they will need to find a middle ground if they are going to improve next season. For now it is just about winning the game rather than looking good.
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Team News
Eddie Howe has offered up the possibility that Callum Wilson and Kieran Trippier could start this match. Both have returned to training and if they don’t play from the start they will certainly be included on the bench.
Arsenal have defensive issues. Rob Holding is suspended after his ridiculous red card at Tottenham while Gabriel exited that match early with an injury and needs to pass a fitness test to play here. Kieran Tierney and Thomas Partey are both out but Ben White should return.
Betting
St James’ Park is not an easy place to go this season and Arsenal throw too many shockers in on their travels for me to be backing them. I get the consensus that Newcastle United are entitled to be on the beach here, and they are indeed entitled to be that, but if they are considering bringing the likes of Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson back for a nothing match then that suggests to me that they believe there is someone in this one for them.
Arsenal have got defensive issues which is likely to allow Newcastle to have more chances than they might usually have and if you think that the Toon Army saw six straight wins on their own patch before Liverpool came to town, Newcastle supporters should be confident their side can get something from this game. The odds on Arsenal have plunged since Tottenham won on Sunday but I keep on stressing that must win doesn’t equate to will win. In those six home wins, Newcastle conceded just three goals and kept Aston Villa, Wolves and Crystal Palace out. You can get a decent price on them on a +0.75 Asian line which means even if they are edged out here by a goal you’ll get half your stake back. If they avoid defeat you win in full. That is a bit too much of a potential for a return to ignore.
Tips
Back Newcastle United (+0.75AH) to beat Arsenal for a 3/10 stake at 1.86 with BetVIctor
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