When looking at the fixture list at the back end of 2021, you’d be excused for wondering if we’d already be down by the time Arsenal came to town in the middle of May.
Back in December, we were in the bottom three, six from safety – having played a game MORE than those above us – and stuck on just seven points.
No team in Premier League history had ever stayed up after failing to win any of their opening 14 games, so it felt like we’d stay up by the skin of our teeth on the final weekend of the season if we were going to.
However, here we are, safe with a few games to spare and in with a shout of an unlikely top 10 finish if we can win our final two games of the season.
Our record against Arsenal is pretty awful if recent history is anything to go by, with us winning just three of our last 42 games against the Gunners since the end of 2001. But things are different now.
Arteta’s side arrive with injury issues – they could be without three of their four first choice defenders – and the fear of bottling their push for a top four finish at the penultimate hurdle, knowing they could fall out of the Champions League places if Spurs (who face Burnley) better their result this gameweek.
Not only that, they’ll face a resurgent Newcastle United ready to end the season on a high in our final home game of 2021/22.
Team news
Callum Wilson and Kieran Trippier are bothing pushing to start after late cameos at Man City, while Ryan Fraser is in contention to return from a hamstring injury.
Fabian Schar is fit again, but Jonjo Shelvey (calf), Joe Willock (knee) and Federico Fernandez (achilles) have all been ruled out.
For Arsenal, they are facing a mini crisis at the back. Rob Holding is suspended, Gabriel Magalhaes has a hamstring issue which could keep him out and Ben White is touch and go after missing each of their last two games.
Elsewhere, Thomas Partey and Kieran Tierney are also out with long term injuries.
Predicted line ups
(4-3-3): Dubravka – Trippier, Schar, Burn, Targett – Guimaraes, S Longstaff, Joelinton – Almiron, Wilson, Saint-Maximin.
OUT: Emil Krafth, Jamaal Lascelles, Chris Wood – IN: Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar and Callum Wilson.
Howe may err on the side of caution with Trippier and Wilson, but he said on Friday they both feel ready to start – even if it’s his responsibility to make the right decision for the team while also protecting their gradual comeback from long term injuries.
I fancy both to start – even if they’ll only manage 70 minutes or so – and reckon we’ll also see Fabian Schar come in for Jamaal Lascelles if the Swiss international is fully fit again.
I don’t think Howe will risk Fraser from the start, however. He has trained recently, but rushing a hamstring issue could impact his pre-season preparations if we’re not careful. It may also be Almiron’s last chance to impress Howe – and his last home game at SJP if he’s sold this summer – so I see him getting another start.
Predicted Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1): Ramsdale – Cedric, White, Tomiyasu, Tavares – Elneny, Xhaka – Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli – Nketiah.
Match prediction
I have a good feeling about this.
It’s our last game of the season, it’ll be an electric atmosphere and the players – and Howe – will be desperate to sign off in style at St James’ Park.
We have nothing to lose and could thrive in what will be a feel-good occasion on Tyneside, while Arsenal will be feeling the pressure and may well buckle if it’s one of those special nights under the lights on Tyneside!
Wilson to grab a goal on his return and Eddie’s Mags to dent the Gunners’ top four charge at the death after another spine-tingling display from Wor Flags!
Prediction: Newcastle 2-1 Arsenal
The Daily Mail is a terrible paper with extremely biased views. Sticks the knife in at every opportunity. No matter how anti royalist a fan may be they are not going to boo their own players shaking hands with Prince William when they have just won the cup. Surely any booing must have come from Chelsea supporters but the Daily Mail would never agree that. I am no lover of Liverpool supporters.
Groucho(Quote)
Big call from you there Olly to say Tripps and Wilson to start. I have a feeling they will come on at 60 mins. As you said, our history against Arsenal is terrible, but now is the time to change that! I have said in earlier comments that I think this Arsenal team are not that good and are in a false position, so this is our best chance for a win against them for years.
My only problem is a lot of pundits and NUFC blogs predicting a win for us and that makes me nervous 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
What I would really like is for Wor Flags to have a banner for Tiote to remember that goal where we were 4-0 down at half time and came back to draw 4-4. Nice memorial as well as he passed away very young.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – that would have been true class mate ??.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I really like what our new board member & main man had to say about the intentions going into next season.
I’m a fan of NUFC, but I’m a bigger fan of Newcastle. The fact they are talking about investing in the City is brilliant.
I was round when Sir John Hall took the club on & he invested in the area too as best he could – and it was a great place to be.
I know Majid has a lot to do with LIV golf as well – and I love golf too – so I’m a happy lad at the mo. They have added Slayley Hall to their tour & the tickets are free.
I’m sick of the hypocrisy now. I watched the interview Greg Norman did with Sky about the impact of LIV Golf & he quite rightly pointed out that Saudi have invested in the European tour for years & the PGA tour out in America have taken billions of Chinese money for years – the answer he got was 2 wrongs don’t make a right ?. No talk of addressing the already established wrong though ?.
The term sports washing was never heard when it was Russian, Chinese or Thai money – it’s never been used when the F1 or Boxing was out in Saudi – 2 wrongs don’t make a right though ??♂️.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Anyway, back to footy.
Spurs win today will have ramped things up for the Goonies now. It’s going to be a tough game on Monday – but I think we can definitely beat them at home. We really need to be in their faces though – give them no time on the ball & frustrate them. If we score first even better, coz I see at least one of their players losing their heads.
Their CBs are poor and if we play the high press – particularly with Wilson, they make mistakes.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I think we’ve been linked with every CF out there this weekend – today it’s Broja from Saints/Chelsea.
He’s looked pretty decent at times to be fair and is only 20 so lots of development ahead. He reminds me a bit of Mitro without the wild aggression.
The only one I’m not too keen on is DCL. When he’s fit he looks really good – but he struggles with his injuries – a younger Wilson really.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Bowen has just score 2 brilliant goals against City in that first half.
City have barely had a shot on target. Huge second half for them now & Liverpool could be right back in this title race.
But other than Salah, I’m not sure if there is a better wide right forward in the league than Bowen.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Whey the blue dippers took a flukey early lead ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
On 56 mins. T-Rex Mackem has to be Everton’s player of the season.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
How the hell is that not another sending off with mykilenko shoving his head into Toneys face. It wasnt quite a headbutt but it was a foul.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
2-2 Everton to bite their nails now.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I dont particularly care what position we end up – 12th or 14th are pretty much of a muchness to me. Would be nice to finish with more points than Bruce though after he almost got us relegated.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
They’re going to hate Rafa even more now after that challenge by Rondon 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Well we’ve been linked with both Toney & DCL – both have worked hard today, ran their socks off & done a lot of dirty work – but if we took either I think we’d need more goals from midfield & our wide forwards.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Calvert-Lewin looks injured again. We cannot afford to have him and Wilson in the same squad. Look elsewhere.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So Everton still in the mix then. They could’ve been safe today with a win. Oops! I still think they’ll survive though.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Kimtoon got it right that The Ukraine would win the Eurovision Song Contest. Can you send me lottery numbers Kim?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Fine margins innit Gilly. We should have beat them and they would really be in the **** now.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – that’s my feeling towards DCL as well mate. He’s so much like Wilson – really good player, will score goals but will likely miss a third-half the season through injury.
If we want to be top 8 or better, we need our forwards fit & scoring goals.
I’m not sold on Woods either.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy: Wood is a strange one. He was bought for a purpose to provide a focal point and not necessarily to score loads of goals. It was the Eddie Howe blueprint from when he saved B’mth from going out of the league .
He has done the job and hassles other teams’ centre halfs. But he has missed a couple of sitter headers. He will come on for the last 15 mins next year to shore up a win. He only got a 2 and a half year contract so I think they knew what they were getting.
Many on Youtube channels keep slagging him off, but I think he served his purpose which was to keep us up. 25 mil might seem like a lot but it is a drop in the bucket to the Saudis and Reubens. It would have cost 150 million and 2 years of progress if we went down.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Indeed mate. That’s a game that really galls with me. We should’ve really taken the points there and bare minimum a draw. Hey ho!
Still keep losing my details! ?(Quote)
I really wish we had signed Bowen when he really wanted to come to Newcastle. I cannot see Wet Spam selling now. What a player!
Still keep losing my details! ?(Quote)
Sharpy was all over him before he signed for WHam.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Whatever happens in the last 2 games you just have to be in awe of the job Eddie Howe has done. The team look together and revitalized. Even the ones who know they are leaving!
Howe’s comportment in press conferences is in total contrast to the cabbage who despite his “nice guy” supposed image would snap whenever a journo asked him a tough question. Eddie doesnt even get flustered when the Southern Press ask him to solve the human rights issues in Saudi. I am sure they will ask him about world peace and the Ukraine in the summer!
We have a lot to look forward to!!!
Let’s start with a win against the Gunners. Gan on Olly man, let’s get a 2-1 win.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I lived in Islington for a year, so Arsenal probably should be my second team. They are not, because as the slogan goes on a Broon Ale bottle, NUFC are “The One and Only”.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I am going to get shouty now !!!!!!
THIS IS A HARD ONE TO PREDICT.
THEY ARE NOT AS GOOD AS THEIR LEAGUE PLACE SUGGESTS.
BUT WE HAVE HISTORICALLY DONE **** AGAINST THEM.
BUT THEY DONT REALLY HAVE THAT GOOD OF PLAYERS!
WHERE’S THE BERGKAMP OR HENRY, OR THE IAN WRIGHT AND TONY ADAMS?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I will give you some examples of why we shouldnt be **** scared of Arsenal when I compare what they have with what they HAD:
Nketeti – Ian Wright
Xhaka – Viera
White – Adams
Martinelli – Henri
Saka – Bergkamp
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I didnt even mention Van Persie 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Imagine – Emil Smith-Rowe or Robin Van Persie? It is night and day, man. I am not afraid! 🙂
Doesnt mean we wont lose 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
We are not playing the Arsenal of yesteryear. We are playing a bunch of kids and middling player!!!!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, it was always gonna be Ukraine, Europe sent a message to Russia that we are with Ukraine, I’m glad they won and happy it was us and them in the last two.
Re the game tonight, you are right, it’s not the Arsenal of old, we have a chance and just need to believe we can win.
kimtoon(Quote)
I’d rather match them 4-2-3-1 moving miggy into the middle and playing Murphy wide, dropping Longstaff
Probably a draw but we can win it
PremAndUp(Quote)
ERIC we didnt get Bowen but i would take on chance on SARR from Watford hes very much like him in a lot of ways
icedog(Quote)
Fancy a 2-1 victory tonight, Arsenal to crumble under the pressure of fighting for 4th place
John mac(Quote)
Hopefully the young Gooners will wilt under the cauldron of pressure created by their position, their loss against Sirs and the loud, fortress atmosphere they will encounter tonight – combined with some relentless hard ball pressing by our players obviously ?
Shamrock(Quote)
so Toon earn 112 mil for their 14th place in PPL,not bad
icedog(Quote)
Plus Player sales and £60-£80m
Is that our Budget??
PremAndUp(Quote)
If Wilson is fit I can see him being a right handful tonight & it wouldn’t surprise me if he bags a goal or 2.
With all the talk of new forwards, how long he’s been out & the atmosphere of our last home game – I think he’s gonna be bang up for this one!!.
It’ll be interesting to see how he links up with Bruno as well.
ASM always looks better with Wilson in the side too.
Should be a good game ????
Sharpy17(Quote)
You got the team right young Olly. Hope you get the score right as well.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Arsenal have finished 8th the last 2 seasons. That is their level! That is the quality of this current team. They are punching above their weight and we need to knock them out today!!!!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
SJP is totally bonkers, man.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
What about that flags display? Stunning!
Gilly not gonna post again til **** sorted(Quote)
HWTL
kimtoon(Quote)
You have to think Callum will break this offside trap at some point!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Maxi doesnt have the headband on after the PL fined him 🙂 🙂 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
This may seem like the most minor of issues, Matt Targett can actually take a throw in. How many times have we seen us lose the ball, taking 30 seconds for throw ins?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
We are OUTPLAYING ARSENAL. I said they werent THAT good! Need to get a goal now for all this pressure.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Who is 14th and who is going for 4th?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Aaaaggghhhh this site is doing my head in ????
????(Quote)
It is only nil-nil but we have been the dominant team. Imagine under Brucie? We would have sat back and let them have 70% possession with his patented 9-0-1 formation.
It is so nice to see us want to play football.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Cracking first half. 70% possession against Arsenal! ? but only 3 shots on goal! We need to do more with the ball. Not impressed with Longstaff I’m afraid. I hope we don’t end up regretting not taking advantage of that possession in the first half. Saka looks dangerous
????(Quote)
Well that was fun to watch. Good first half from all in B&W to be fair – Longstaff, Krafth & Miggy combining well down the right & Targett, Maxi & big Joe look dangerous down the left.
More of the same this half please – maybe nick a goal as well if you don’t mind ??????
Sharpy17(Quote)
Says so much about Eddie that we havent taken the hommock out and put it between 2 palm trees with a cold brew. Whatever the 2nd half brings and whatever the result is! We battered Arsenal in the 1st half.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
GETINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
WILSON
kimtoon(Quote)
Get in… So well deserved.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Above Bruce’s total now (as it stands). He was so lucky!!!
Big Joe is a different player now.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Max has given his head a shake because he has looked up and found teammates all night. Great to see.
Shamrock(Quote)
Sham, he was even defending !!!!
kimtoon(Quote)
Bruno’s workrate since we scored has been sensational – he’s box to box and reading the game so well
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sham – Wilson is a different beast as well though mate
Sharpy17(Quote)
Yeah Wilson is quality, just a shame he is made of glass. Definitely a great squad player for us though. Difference between him and Wood is night and day.
Shamrock(Quote)
Wasted!!!! Murph & Fraser not good enough there like – should have killed the game 2v1 ????
Sharpy17(Quote)
Can you imagine if that had gone in, SJP would of exploded lol
kimtoon(Quote)
I don’t really rate Murphy. Would rather keep Miggy for the squad. Miggy, Maxi, new signing, Fraser.
Shamrock(Quote)
I mean Wilson makes Wood look like a Conference player
Shamrock(Quote)
YesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssBrunoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
kimtoon(Quote)
What a fantastic performance by the team tonight. Howe’s black & white army
Shamrock(Quote)
Why do they keep showing Arteta – **** him – show Howe celebrating FFS!!! This is our night!!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
Bruno…
I telt you that **** were in a false position before this game. They have been utter shyte and we have been brilliant.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
**** Arsenal – this is our last home game of what’s been an amazing season!!!.
We’ve been outstanding tonight & played them off the park!!.
We will finish above these clowns next season!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Excellent stuff, totally outplayed Arsenal tonight.
kimtoon(Quote)
My nephew will be seething about this, that’ll teach him to tease me about Newcastle
kimtoon(Quote)
Yellow shirts very apt for gunners tonight, to play like that when you could go top 4 is staggering .
kimtoon(Quote)
OUT STANDING!!!!
All in B&W played brilliantly well tonight!!!.
So proud of them & our fans deserved a final home game like that.
Our club is in such a better place 4 or 5 months on it’s truly amazing.
Sharpy17(Quote)