BBC pundit Chris Sutton believes Newcastle will beat Arsenal 2-1 on Sunday, despite the Gunners’ impressive win over Chelsea in midweek.
While Arsenal looked ‘very good’ on Tuesday night, the 50-year-ol feels it’s a ‘much bigger ask’ to beat an in-form Newcastle side who’ve been imperious at St James’ Park all season.
We have won eight of our last nine games, scoring 26 along the way, and are continuing to hunt down a Champions League spot with just five fixtures remaining.
Realistically, Arsenal must win to keep their title hopes alive, yet they couldn’t beat us at the Emirates earlier in the season (0-0) and we battered on Tyneside in this fixture last May. They are a different beast this season, but they’ve won only one of their last five league games and could be without centre-back pairing William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes.
Speaking to the BBC, here’s what Sutton has had to say:
I was at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday and Arsenal were very good – but there is an argument that Chelsea made them look very good.
I thought Gunners defender Jakub Kiwior had a really good game against the Blues, but stopping an in-form Newcastle side is a much bigger ask.
The way the Magpies take the game to teams is great to watch and there is no way whatsoever this one will end goalless again, like it did when they met in January.
Arsenal need to keep winning to keep the pressure up on Manchester City, and a draw is not enough for them. Sadly for them, I can see Newcastle nicking this and continuing their impressive form.
Sutton’s prediction: 2-1
