Predicted Lineups
Probable Lineups Statistical Comparison
Goals
Assists
(6.6)
6.8
Average Ratings
6.8
(6.7)
31.3
Average Age
32.7
180
Average Height (cm)
183.1
(0.7)
1.1
Shots pg
0.9
(0.7)
(49%)
47%
Aerial Duel Success
46%
(46%)
(1.1)
0.7
Dribbles pg
0.8
(0.8)
(1.2)
1.1
Tackles pg
1.1
(1.2)
* Values in brackets (x) are overall player statistics in Premier League.
Missing Players
Newcastle
Arsenal
| Player | Reason | Status | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeAndre Yedlin | Out | 6.33 | |
| Florian Lejeune | Out | 6.51 | |
| Dwight Gayle | Out | 6.48 | |
| Christian Atsu | Out | 6.29 | |
| Matt Ritchie | Doubtful | 6.81 | |
| Jack Colback | Doubtful | N/A |
| Player | Reason | Status | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Héctor Bellerín | Out | 6.64 | |
| Rob Holding | Out | 6.55 | |
| Kieran Tierney | Out | 6.64 | |
| Konstantinos Mavropanos | Out | N/A | |
| Emile Smith Rowe | Out | 6.3 | |
| Nicolas Pépé | Doubtful | 7.06 | |
| Mohamed Elneny | Doubtful | N/A | |
| Mesut Özil | Out | 6.71 | |
| Sead Kolasinac | Out | 6.5 | |
| Alexandre Lacazette | Doubtful | 6.92 |
Team News
Newcastle
Arsenal
- There have been sweeping changes at Newcastle this summer with a new manager in Steve Bruce and a number of incomings and outgoings.
- Club-record signing Joelinton will surely make his full debut this weekend, while fellow summer arrival Allan Saint-Maximin provides additional excitment in forward areas.
- Sunday may come too soon for deadline day signing Emil Krafth but Jetro Willems should start at left-back, allowing Matt Ritchie to push further forward when fit.
- It remains to be seen whether Miguel Almirón will be ready for the opening weekend of the season following his exploits at the Copa America earlier this summer.
- Christian Atsu and Dwight Gayle will miss out for Newcastle this weekend.
- Arsenal manager Unai Emery may have no choice but to hand club-record signing Nicolas Pepe his full debut this weekend. Emery is prepared to be patient with the Ivorian but options are thin in wide areas unless Henrikh Mkhitaryan is brought in from the cold.
- David Luiz and Kieran Tierney both signed for Arsenal on deadline day to bolster Emery's defensive options but the latter is injured and won't make his debut at Newcastle. Luiz, however, could be thrust straight into the XI given a lack of decent options at Emery's disposal.
- Real Madrid loanee Dani Ceballos should take up Aaron Ramsey's position in midfield, with Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira battling it out for one more spot in the middle of the park.
- Alexandre Lacazette is a doubt with an ankle injury but Emery is optimistic the Frenchman will be available on Sunday. Arsenal have confirmed neither Mesut Ozil nor Sead Kolasinac will play against Newcastle amid fears for their safety.
What a boring match
Early stages suggest this could be a frustrating match for both sides. Pepe to come off the bench and scored the winner. Arsenal 1-0.
2-2
No more Benitez for Newcastle but Steve Bruce. Mr Bruce is a good manager and is in position to produce some positive work. There are some injuries for the home team. On the other side Arsenal which also has some important injuries (I doubt that Lacazette will play) is a better team therefore I will bet in favor of Arsenal: Arsenal to WIN and Over 1.5 goal in the match at 2.65 is ok for me.
Arsenal by1. 1-2 or 0-1.
Hayden - start, Saint-Maximin - bench. Ozil & Kolasinac - rest.
@Andrii @Andrii Ozil and Kolasinac didn't travel for security reason. Why would anyone need a rest on the first game of the season
Both to score. Arsenal double chance. 1-2 maybe correct score.
@StickandMove I would be shocked if Arsenal do not keep a clean-sheet and win 1-0.
X2 draw can happen
Ozil, Kolasinac aren't playing on Sunday(due to attack on them). I think Laca also won't play. Pepe for sure won't start in 11. Torreira is a doubt cuz he returned lately from holidays. I believe Dani and Nelson will play. I wouldn't expect fireworks from Arsenal, we need our best players to show real power. 0:1
@fantazyboy- Just read that on SSN. It is actually due to intelligence suggesting that there is a new attack planned on one or both.
@SteveHyland so is better for them to stay in London ?some 007 plot here
@alxdru- Ha, it's not beyond the realm of impossibility that the security services would be involved but I think it's more precautionary. Two men were arrested today.
@SteveHyland with more players sitting, what are your thoughts on Arsenal to win?
Although Unai Emery has used the 4-2-3-1 extensively in preseason, with all the injuries and possible injuries (Bellerín, Holding, Tierney, Ceballos, Pépé and Lacazette), it may be best to use a 3-4-1-2: Leno, Chambers, Luiz, Sokratis, Maitland-Niles, Torreira, Xhaka, Kolašinac, Özil, Aubameyang, Nelson. That way, the poor positioning of Maitland-Niles and Kolašinac shouldn't be as exposed and they can play higher up the field; Luiz playing as the MCB will enable him to move into FM when we have the ball; Özil won't need to defend; we won't have to play Mkhitaryan and we can have a high press on the Newcastle CBs with two very quick players up front. Last season the back 3 offered no discernible benefit, defensively, over a back 4 but with so many probable starters injured or not fully fit, it may be prudent to adopt a "least bad" formation. The 4-2-3-1 would probably be Leno, Chambers, Sokratis, Luiz, Monreal, Torreira, Xhaka, Mkhitaryan, Özil, Nelson, Aubameyang.
@SteveHyland This is the reason i'm not very ”excited” by the transfers Arsenal made.If one of the first team player is out , Unai is forced to change the formation (with few exceptions) which leads us to the same bad positioning in defence problem we had last year.You can't expect from a defender that plays in different formation every month to intercept,tackle,pass the ball forward etc.Arsenal need to stick with 4 at the back all season if they want a strong defence.So Pepe ,Laca ,Auba even Ceballos don't fit in a 4-2-3-1 formation or 3-4-1-2 For me the best formation will be 4-3-3 with Ceballos between Xhaka and Torreira and Lacca -Auba -Pepe in front three
If Pepe doesn't start, I think Reiss Nelson will. I hope so, at least.
2-2