· 14 May 2025, 19:00
**Sunday brings with it another massive game for Newcastle United as Eddie Howe's Magpies fight for a place in next season's Champions League.**
They come up against second-place Arsenal at the Emirates and while a win for the Gunners would cement their place as runners-up in this season's Premier League, a win for Newcastle would practically guarantee their place in the Champions League as well as taking them above Arsenal and putting them in the driving seat for second spot going into the final game of the campaign.
There's a lot riding on the game, and while Arsenal did have a good comeback against Liverpool at the weekend, it's the Magpies who carry better form going into this game.
Indeed, it was Newcastle's Carabao Cup semi-final win against Arsenal that set Mikel Arteta's side on a path of destruction, going out of the League Cup and then the Champions League while losing ground in the title race.
Gary Neville expects Arsenal to bag the three points on Sunday
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That win was Newcastle's third against Arsenal in as many games this season, but Gary Neville told the 'It's Called Soccer' podcast that he doesn't believe the Magpies will make it four in four.
> "I feel quite strongly that Arsenal are going to win. I think they will secure second place. I think they will have had enough time. That was a big second 45 minutes at Anfield and it will really give them a lift."Arteta will have given them a few days off at the start of the week and they’ll come back a little bit fresher mentally.
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> "The big thing on Sunday is that if Arsenal win, they do get second place confirmed and that’s big. It means they can relax in the last week of the season and almost half go on holiday a little bit. I just think there’s enough on this game and I think Arsenal will win 2-1."
Jamie Carragher doesn't agree that Arsenal will win
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Meanwhile, his Sky Sports frenemy, Jamie Carragher feels it's going to be a closer game.
> "I’m going to go for a 2-2 draw. I think it will be a great game, I think Newcastle will really go for them."Obviously, Arsenal came back at Liverpool and they’ve got a week to prepare which will be a little bit easier. But they \[Arsenal\] are still missing a few players, they’re still probably a little bit down with being out of the title race and Champions League.
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> "But I feel like there’s a real buzz at Newcastle. They’ve got the trophy and for Newcastle to finish second in the Premier League will feel absolutely massive."
Hopefully, both of them are wrong, but if we have to go with one of them, then obviously a point is better than nothing, although it would all but end the dream of finishing second.