3 key battles that will decide Newcastle vs Arsenal

Newcastle are on a phenomenal run, scoring goals for fun, and remaining reasonably tight at the back. However, Arsenal will bring the confidence of Tuesday’s 3-1 win over Chelsea to St James’ and have a score to settle from last season.

In Eddie Howe and Mikel Arteta, these two sides boast two of the most impressive coaches in the Premier League this season, and their previous match-up was an intriguing tactical duel that Howe’s pragmatism edged.

It’s bound to be a game of fine margins, and here are three key battles that could decide Sunday’s contest.

3 key battles that will decide Newcastle vs Arsenal

1. The midfield

Last year, Newcastle overran Arsenal in midfield, but in January at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal pinned Newcastle into their defensive third, in a game that saw them completely change how they play football.

That night, Zinchenko shone for Arsenal having 108 touches, and completing 82 of 89 passes, with his vertical play cutting between the Newcastle lines, and causing problems against a tightly packed team that played a very low block.

This time around, Newcastle come into the game with eight wins in nine games, scoring 26 goals during that run, and their midfield running power has been key to their success, with Joe Willock, Bruno Guimarães and Joelinton excelling with their combination of speed, power and directness.

With that in mind, Newcastle will not play like they did in January, and Arsenal’s midfield need to be prepared for a physical, hardworking battle, where establishing control could be difficult.

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