Arsenal go host Newcastle United for Emirates Stadium this Saturday for Premier League match wey get plenty plenty tension. Dis one na crucial game for title race because Manchester City don overtake Arsenal for top spot after beating Burnley 1-0 on Wednesday night. City and Arsenal dey tied on 70 points and +37 goal difference, but City dey ahead because dem score more goals (66 to 63).
Arsenal bin dey top of table for nearly four months, but back-to-back losses to Bournemouth and City don make dem lose ground. Now, di Gunners get chance to bounce back and move three points clear of City if dem win against Newcastle. Di match go kick off at 5:30pm (16:30 GMT), and Sky Sports go broadcast am for UK. For international viewers, check local listings.
Arsenal get two home games before City next league match against Everton on May 4. If Arsenal beat Newcastle and then Fulham on May 2, dem fit be six points clear, but City get two games in hand. Di title race don turn sweet and unexpected, with City recovering from nine points behind in March to now leading.
Arsenal last match na 2-1 defeat to City, wey give Guardiola side chance to control di title race. Before dat, Arsenal lose 2-1 to Bournemouth at home and draw 0-0 with Sporting Lisbon for Champions League, but still qualify for semifinal against Atletico Madrid. Di Gunners get only one win for last six matches across all competitions, including FA Cup exit to Southampton and League Cup final defeat to City.
Newcastle, wey bin dey challenge for title two seasons ago, don lose four matches in a row and win only one of last seven. Dem dey 14th position. Di reverse fixture for September end 2-1 for Arsenal, with Mikel Merino equalizing in 84th minute and Gabriel Magalhaes scoring winner in stoppage time. Last season, Arsenal beat Newcastle 1-0 at home with Declan Rice scoring only goal.
Newcastle don win only one Premier League game at Arsenal since November 2010, and dem don lose 12 of last 13 visits. Di Magpies score only two goals for last 11 league visits to Emirates. For injury news, Bukayo Saka dey out with Achilles problem, Jurrien Timber dey close to return but Saturday go come too soon. Riccardo Calafiori fit return after missing three games. Mikel Merino dey out long-term with fractured foot. For Newcastle, Anthony Gordon dey doubt with hip issue, Tino Livramento and Fabian Schar dey doubtful with injuries. Joelinton dey serve second match of suspension.
Arsenal predicted lineup: David Raya; Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Piero Hincapie; Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard; Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli, Viktor Gyokeres. Newcastle predicted lineup: Nick Pope; Kieran Trippier, Malick Thiaw, Dan Burn, Lewis Hall; Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, Jacob Ramsey; Anthony Elanga, Harvey Barnes, Nick Woltemade.
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