Arsenal v Newcastle: Gunners to move within a point of Tottenham
Published:From the low of silverware-denying defeats to AC Milan and Sunderland, Arsenal have come back fighting, and are 1/2 to continue their recovery against a Newcastle team that are winless in three…
Match odds
Two killer statistics help demonstrate why Arsenal are rated 1/2 to win this encounter: they have scored a stunning 15 goals across their last three home games, while Newcastle have shipped five on their last two trips to the capital.
The Gunners have been fantastic recently having appeared to be in crisis mode previously, refusing to bow to the expectation that their season would peter out after their chances of lifting a trophy faded for another year.
Instead, they have taken full advantage of Tottenham and Chelsea’s poor form to assume a position of strength in the battle for Champions League qualification, and victory here will leave them a point shy of third-placed Spurs.
Visitors Newcastle aren’t in quite as good nick despite their lofty Premier League standing of sixth, winning just two in seven and losing four of their last five – or six in nine to examine a longer period – on their travels.
Arsenal benefited from meeting a complacent side in AC Milan in midweek and it is possible that the Magpies will be similarly stymied by knowing that Liverpool can’t overtake them in Tuesday’s Merseyside derby whatever happens here.
Other markets
If you don’t fancy backing the hosts at odds-on then there are several other options for this match. Opposing both teams to score is one at 5/6, as that has been a feature of only four of their last 17 collisions.
Newcastle have netted just once in their last five days out at the Emirates, through Andy Carroll last season, so the home clean sheet at 6/4 and win to nil at 7/4 are also rather appealing.
