Arsenal vs Newcastle United – Match preview and team news

The Football Faithful

·18 maggio 2025

Arsenal vs Newcastle United – Match preview and team news

Arsenal welcome Newcastle United to North London this afternoon for their final home league match of the season.

The result of today’s contest could have a strong bearing on the recipients of Champions League qualification. At the start of the day, the Gunners sit in second place with 68 points while Newcastle occupy third position and trail by two points.

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Newcastle have already beaten Arsenal THREE times this season without conceding 😳 No team has ever beaten the Gunners four times in a single campaign 👀
– domenica 18 maggio 2025

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is hopeful that Kai Havertz will make his return to the matchday squad ahead of schedule.

Initial reports claimed that the German’s season was over after sustaining a serious hamstring injury during their warm-weather training camp in Dubai back in February. However, Havertz is in line to make his first appearance since Arsenal’s 2-0 loss away to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup semi-final.

Declan Rice missed last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool with a hip injury, and he’ll be assessed alongside the fatigued Jurrien Timber. Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard are also still feeling the effects of the stalemate, and their fitness is being monitored.

Mikel Merino is a definite absentee as he serves a one-match suspension following his sending off at Anfield.

Eddie Howe and his players can climb into second position and secure Champions League qualification with a win in north London later on today.

Newcastle’s defensive options have been depleted as Sven Botman and Kieran Trippier are unavailable for the trip to the capital. Botman’s injury woes continue, although this hindrance is only thought to be a knock. Trippier is dealing with a minor calf issue and could return for the final game of the season.

Former Arsenal midfielder Joe Willock will be assessed while Joelinton and Lewis Hall remain out.

Arsenal vs Newcastle United – Match Preview and team news

Form

Arsenal: DLLLD

Arsenal are in the midst of their worst patch of form of the season, having failed to win any of their last five matches.

During that period, the Gunners lost both legs of their Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain.

In the Premier League, Mikel Arteta’s side have surrendered leads to both Crystal Palace and Bournemouth in recent weeks to drop points.

Last weekend, a spirited second-half display earned them a point away to champions Liverpool. After falling two goals behind, Arteta rallied his troops to produce a comeback.

Their nosedive in form has jeopardised their Champions League qualification hopes. A few weeks ago, their place in Europe’s elite competition next season seemed a foregone conclusion, but now the Gunners must pick up at least one win in their final two games to confirm their spot.

Newcastle: WLWDW

Newcastle picked up a vital 2-0 victory at home to fellow Champions League qualification contenders Chelsea last Sunday.

Sandro Tonali’s second-minute strike set the tone, before Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson was dismissed for elbowing Sven Botman.

The Magpies revelled in the numerical advantage and confirmed the three points in the closing stages through Bruno Guimaraes’ deflected goal.

It was their sixth successive league triumph at St. James’ Park and took them into third place.

Eddie Howe and his players are now within touching distance of reaching Europe’s greatest stage for the second time in three seasons.

Last Meeting: Newcastle 2-0 Arsenal, Carabao Cup, 5th February 2025

Newcastle comfortably dispatched of Arsenal back in February to advance into the Carabao Cup final.

After winning 2-0 in the first leg in North London, the Magpies repeated the scoreline to book their place at Wembley.

Alexander Isak thought he had smashed in the opener in the fourth minute, only to be denied by the linesman’s flag for offside. It was an early warning that Arsenal failed to address.

Despite this, the Gunners should have halved the deficit on aggregate through their captain, Martin Odegaard. Gabriel Martinelli was scythed down on the edge of the box by Dan Burn, and the ball broke to the Norwegian. However, Odegaard couldn’t capitalise on the space and his sliced effort clipped the post.

More fantastic centre forward play from Isak resulted in the hosts breaking the deadlock. A neat interchange with Anthony Gordon culminated in Newcastle’s number 14 clattering the woodwork with another thunderous strike. The lively Jacob Murphy was well-positioned to convert the rebound and put his side in front.

Mikel Arteta’s side still provided a threat, and Nick Pope needed to stay alert to parry Leandro Trossard’s low shot.

William Saliba was having a torrid evening at the back, and more careless play gifted Gordon possession. The former Everton winger tried to catch out David Raya from 35 yards but narrowly missed the target.

Arsenal’s persistence in playing out from the back was punished by the Magpies after the break. This time, Declan Rice was caught on the ball following a poor pass from Raya, and Gordon instinctively finished into the bottom corner. It may have only been the 52nd minute, but it was game over at St James’ Park.

Newcastle would go on to win the competition after beating Liverpool 2-1 in the final, thus ending a 70-year trophy drought.

Predicted Lineups

Arsenal: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Calafiori; Partey, Rice; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli, Trossard.

Newcastle: Pope; Schar, Krafth, Burn; Murphy, Tonali, Guimaraes, Livramento; Barnes, Isak, Gordon.

Who is the referee?

Simon Hooper will be the match official. Adrian Holmes and Simon Long will assist him, while Andy Madley will be the fourth official. Michael Salisbury will be on VAR duty, and Marc Perry will assist him.