LIVE: Arsenal vs Newcastle
A five-game sprint for the Premier League title begins this evening as Arsenal host Newcastle. The Gunners were knocked off the top of the table on Wednesday night - for the first time since late October - as a result of Manchester City’s win over Burnley, but can reclaim top spot with victory here.
Mikel Arteta’s side have lost four domestic games in a row either side of the international break, a run which has seen their hopes of an unprecedented quadruple dashed. A Premier League and Champions League dream remains alive for Arsenal, though they must get back to winning ways or risk ending another season without any major silverware.
Newcastle, themselves, are in bad form. They arrive in London on the back of four successive defeats and have since been tipped to get dragged into a relegation battle as the pressure mounts on head coach Eddie Howe, who is in desperate need of a win. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Matt Verri at the Emirates Stadium.
Fan thoughts: Arsenal supporters nervous
Fan reaction: Arsenal must improve
One moment of magic but otherwise very little in attack from Arsenal. This new league, as Arteta has called it, feels a lot like the old one.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
45+3 min: Gyokeres penalised for a foul and that could be the last action of the half. Tonali to take a free-kick from deep...and the ball floats straight through to Raya as the whistle goes.
Arsenal have gone long to Gyokeres three times since he's come on and on each occasion he didn't even jump. Just half backing into the defender isn't really going to cut it at this level.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
45 min: Three minutes of stoppage time has been signalled.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
43 min: Good pressing from White forces a mistake from Burn but Arsenal fail to make the most of the opportunity.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
41 min: Waste of a free-kick from Newcastle as it is played short to Tonali who shoots straight at Odegaard.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
40 min: Patient play from Arsenal, not quite sure this is the best approach when it’s only 1-0. On the flip side, there is an argument that they are trying to draw Newcastle out but they concede a free-kick in a dangerous area after Saliba fouls Guimaraes.