Newcastle United v Arsenal: Match Preview, Odds & Tips

Stephen Welch / 5:29 PM GMT • 1st November, 2024

3 minutes

Here at betting.bet you’ll find the latest team news, enhanced match insights, expert betting tips and opinions as well as the latest match odds.

This weekend’s Premier League action kicks off with a cracker as Newcastle United host Arsenal at St James’ Park at Saturday lunchtime. Both clubs have stuttered of late to further increase the importance of Saturday’s meeting. Here at betting.bet you’ll find the latest team news, enhanced match insights, expert betting tips and opinions as well as the latest match odds from our partners at Ladbrokes.

Form

Newcastle United have slumped to 12th in the Premier League table after a run of five league games without a win. Eddie Howe’s side have just 12 points from their first nine matches and have scored just four goals in four home league games. Saturday’s hosts will be boosted by Wednesday's 2-0 League Cup win at home to Chelsea.

Arsenal are also enduring a sticky patch in the league, taking just one point from their last two matches. The Gunners suffered a shock 2-0 defeat at AFC Bournemouth a fortnight ago before twice being pegged back to draw 2-2 at home to Liverpool last weekend. Like Newcastle United, Arsenal progressed to the quarter-final of the League Cup earlier this week as Mike Arteta’s side eased to a 3-0 win away at Preston North End.

Team News

Both Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon were substituted during the League Cup win over Chelsea but Newcastle United manager, Eddie Howe remains confident that both players will be fit for the visit of Arsenal. The Magpies are already without the likes of Callum Wilson, Kieran Trippier, Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles.

Arsenal remain without captain Martin Odegaard and defenders Riccardo Calafiori and Takehiro Tomiyasu for the trip to Newcastle United but William Saliba returns after serving a one-game suspension. Mikel Arteta is also sweating on the fitness of defenders Ben White and Gabriel but both should be fit to start on Saturday.

Newcastle United v Arsenal: Head-to-Head

A second half Anthony Gordon strike saw Newcastle United claim a 1-0 win in the corresponding fixture last season. However, their record against Arsenal is generally poor. Newcastle United have won just three of their last 26 matches against Arsenal in all competitions and were soundly beaten 4-1 in last season's reverse fixture at the Emirates.

Betting Tips

Newcastle United’s form is a major cause for concern and Arsenal know an early goal would really unsettle the St James’ Park crowd. The Gunners have scored first in seven of their last eight games in all competitions and have led at half-time in each of the last three. In contrast, Newcastle United have gone behind in five of their last six Premier League games - the only exception being last month’s 0-0 draw at Everton. Arsenal at 4/6 to score the game’s first goal or 6/4 to be leading at half-time.

Bukayo Saka scored when the sides last met back in February and the Arsenal and England winger has also scored in each of his last three Arsenal starts with goals against Paris Saint-Germain, Southampton and Liverpool. Saka is excellent value in the various goalscorer markets and can currently be backed at 9/5 to score at any time. However, given our prediction of an early Arsenal goal, he may prove better value at 11/2 to score first.

Last season's meeting between these sides at St James’ Park was a fiery encounter with six yellow cards dished out throughout the game. Five of those bookings were given to the home side and we therefore cannot ignore the 11/8 on offer for Newcastle United to receive the most cards on Saturday.

Match Odds