Our final home game of the 2024/25 season sees a clash between the teams starting the weekend second and third in the table, as Newcastle United visit Emirates Stadium on Sunday (4.30pm).
The teams are well acquainted having met three times already this term when the Magpies got the better of us on their way to a long-awaited Carabao Cup triumph, and they return to N5 having won seven of their last nine and targetting a first league double over us in 30 years.
But it’s been 15 since the Geordies triumphed at our home in league action, with us winning 11 of our last 12, including a convincing 4-1 success last season. With one last packed house of Gooners to entertain, we’ll look to maintain that proud record to give our supporters one last home hurrah as we aim to seal a third successive runners-up finish.
Geordie glory at long last
The Magpies head into the final two weeks of the campaign on the brink of achieving their most successful season since the 1950s, when they last won a trophy and finished in the highest echelons of the table, albeit now with the carrot of Champions League football also up for grabs.
That seemed far-fetched back in December when they were 12th with only five league wins, but a run of nine wins in all competitions pushed them into top-five contention as well as a League Cup final, where they put in an incredible display to beat Liverpool 2-1 at Wembley to finally end a 56-year wait for major silverware.
That has assured Eddie Howe of legendary status on Tyneside, but after they beat European rivals Chelsea last weekend 2-0, he is now he is also on the brink of achieving the club’s best league placing since 1997 as victories in their final two games would see them claim second spot from under our noses.
What the managers say
Arteta: "We're going to need a big [performance] and be very clinical because we know the qualities of Newcastle. We know the results that we had lately against them and how thin the margins are with them and especially how clinical we have to be in front of them to score the goals."It's our last home game, and it's always a very special occasion. It's our chance to wrap up the Champions League, to put ourselves in a really strong position for the second place, and in a way to say thank you again to all of our supporters for the amazing season."
Read more Every word from Arteta's pre-Newcastle presser
Howe: “We have done well against Arsenal this season but every game is a new game. You don’t underestimate any opponent and have full respect to them, but we are going into the game trying to win.
“We’re not there [Champions League qualification] yet. The picture can change game to game and I think we’ve got to be really focused on our next game and trying to win it. Nothing is achieved until it’s achieved. We have to be single-minded in that and not get distracted.”
Team news
Mikel Merino will miss the meeting with his former club following his red card against Liverpool last week, but there was better news for Arteta as Kai Havertz returned to training this week, having been out of action since January following hamstring surgery and will be assessed before being selected.
The same goes for Declan Rice who missed the game against the Reds with a hip issue, while Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli were also pictured at an open training session at Emirates Stadium earlier this week after they came off at Anfield with ailments.
Gabriel (hamstring), Takehiro Tomiyasu and Gabriel Jesus (both knee) have all seen their seasons end early.
Read more Gallery: Open training at Emirates Stadium
Sven Botman returned to the Magpies side against Chelsea on Sunday but came off with a knee knock and is doubtful, while Joe Willock missed that game with a thigh problem and is touch and go as to whether he’ll return to his old stomping ground.
Kieran Tripper has a slight calf issue which sees him likely to miss out, alongside Joelinton (knee), Lewis Hall (foot) and Matt Targett (hamstring) who are out for the run-in.
Talking tactics
Adrian Clarke, writing in the official matchday programme: In the absence of Joelinton, Howe sprung a surprise when fielding a 3-4-3 against Chelsea. It’s a system that works very well for the players at Howe’s disposal, with Jacob Murphy showing what an adaptable player he is, slotting in seamlessly at right wing-back. A back three was used for long periods of the Carabao Cup semi-final, so it would probably be a surprise if Newcastle don’t start with a trio of central defenders.The Magpies are an unapologetically abrasive side who do the basics very well. Industrious all over the pitch, physically robust and organised outstandingly well, they are a tough side to play against. They will also offer a live threat on the counter, and only Liverpool and Chelsea have produced more shots from fast breaks, with the pacy Harvey Barnes, Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak thriving in that style of play.Isak is the jewel in the visitors’ crown, scoring 23 Premier League goals so far. His clever movement, speed and goal threat caused our rearguard a host of problems in the previous three meetings, so he is somebody who has to be marked tightly. With two matches left, Newcastle are the division’s second-highest goalscorers, and only Brentford have a more impressive chance conversion rate. The Magpies have converted 15 of 18 opening goals into victories, averaging 2.61 points per game after scoring first.However on road trips they have claimed only seven points from a possible 33 away to clubs above 13th, with just one win. Conceding early in those matches has been a recurring theme, with nine of those 11 matches seeing them go behind inside the first half, so, a fast start this afternoon for us would continue that pattern.
Facts and stats
We have lost just one of our last 20 league home games against Newcastle, winning 11 of the last 12 since a 1-0 loss in November 2010.
The Magpies have won five of their last eight meetings with us in all competitions, as many as they had in their previous 52.
Having won all three meetings this season, Newcastle could become the first team in our history to beat us four times in a single campaign.
We are winless in our last four home games in all competitions, and last had a longer run at Emirates Stadium between March and May 2021 (6).
We have only lost our final home league game in one of the last 27 seasons, going down 2-1 against Aston Villa in 2010/11. The only time our final home game of a league campaign was against Newcastle was in 1996/97, losing 1-0.
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Newcastle haven’t lost their final away league game in any of the last six seasons since a 1-0 loss at Tottenham in 2017/18. Four of these games have been in London.
Bukayo Saka has either scored (3) or assisted (1) in four of his five Premier League games against Newcastle at Emirates Stadium.
Alexander Isak has scored 11 goals in his last 13 away league appearances. He could become just the second Newcastle player to score home and away against us in a Premier League campaign after Peter Beardsley.
Anthony Gordon has either scored (3) or assisted (1) in four of his last five appearances against us in all competitions, netting in both legs of this season’s League Cup semi-final.
Jacob Murphy has assisted 12 league goals this season, the most by a Newcastle player since Nolberto Solano in 1999/00 (15).
Match officials
Simon Hooper has been handed his sixth Gunners game this campaign, which includes our last meeting with the Magpies when they beat us 2-0 at St James’ Park in February. We have won three Premier League encounters under his watch against Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur, but drew 1-1 against Brentford in his last visit a month ago.
Newcastle have won each of their last two Hooper has overseen, the aforementioned win over us and a 2-0 success at Old Trafford in December. He has dished out 107 yellow cards in his 23 top-flight games this term - only Michael Oliver has awarded more - as well as two reds and five penalties.
Referee: Simon HooperAssistants: Adrian Holmes, Simon LongFourth official: Andy MadleyVAR: Michael SalisburyAssistant VAR: Marc Perry
Previous visits from Newcastle
January saw the Magpies claim a 2-0 win in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final thanks to goals from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon, marking their first win at our home since 2010. They could become the fourth visiting side to win two games at Emirates Stadium in a single season after Manchester City in 2020/21, Liverpool in 2021/22 and Brighton in 2022/23.
Traditionally, our home hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for the Black and Whites since we moved in in 2006 as they have won just twice on 20 visits, and lost 11 of the last 12 league trips.
The last of those came in February 2024 when a Botman own goal was followed by strikes from Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Jakub Kiwior, putting us in cruise control before former Willock netted a late consolation, while the campaign before saw a 0-0 draw in January 2023.
Read more Relive 6 memorable home wins against Newcastle
Live coverage
For the last time this season, Nicole Holliday and Timbsy are in the Live from N5 studio for all the best build-up to the game, and will be joined by former Gunners Johan Djourou and Gilberto Silva, as well as NBA players Adem Bona, Jeremy Sochan and Malaki Branham.
All the highlights of the season will be recapped with our Live from N5 Awards, and there will be a players' special of our Out of Focus game as Kieran Tierney takes on Oleksandr Zinchenko,
Then when the action gets underway, live commentary comes as usual from Dan Roebuck and Adrian Clarke - so make sure you tune in an hour before kick-off!
You can also find out which broadcasters are showing the game live wherever you are in the world.
Read more How to watch Arsenal v Newcastle live on TV
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