Arsenal
Arsenal Vs Newcastle – Line-ups, Injury News, Preview And Prediction
Arsenal vs. Newcastle United
Dec 29, 2012
5.30pm (UK)
Emirates
Arsenal host Newcastle at the Emirates stadium today looking for their 4th consecutive win. After an extra day of rest due to the tube day strike in London, Arsenal did not play the boxing day fixture along with Westham which means that the Gunners will be fresh after the travel from the West Brom match. Meanwhile their opponents come into the match after a grueling encounter with league leaders Manchester United. It was a match to forget for the magpies, as they went ahead 3 times only to see United come back every time and finally Chicarito scored the winning goal in the 90th minute.
Arseanl will be floating with confidence after securing 9 points out of the possible 9 at the start of the festive period. As it stands, the Gunners are at 7th place behind West Brom and Everton but have a match in hand. A win tonight will move them back to the top 4 and still have an extra match at hand. Christmas sure looks good for the Arsenal faithful.
Team News:
Arsenal pretty much have their entire first choice for selection with the exception of Diaby, which is a pretty rare occurrence. Giroud returns to the first team after recovering from an illness he suffered last week. Which means Giroud will be available for the starting berth as a striker. Though Arsenal managed to win all their games without their striker, Theo Walcott did not contribute much to the cause playing as a striker. It il be interesting to see wht the manager decides, as Ox who replaced Theo in the wings did have a good run. It will be either Walcott in the wings, or Giroud rested to play Ox in the wings and continue with Walcott up front.
Mean while for Alan Pardew the misery continues as has not been helped by injuries to a number of his key players, meaning that Romain Amalfitano could make his first league appearance for the club.
The managers gave their pre-match talk and the interviews circled around the incident last week at Old Trafford.
Arsene Wenger on Alex Ferguson:
“Should you behave like that? No. I did not always behave like I should and you can call that a bad example, yes. The message it sends out when you look at the pictures is just not to behave like that. We go sometimes overboard on the touchline and when we do it we have to be punished, it is as simple as that. (If) it is me or Ferguson or anybody else in the world, the rules are the rules. It is not rules for one person and the rules for another person, it is the same for everybody.”
Alan Pardew on Alex Ferguson:
“Mike Dean might feel slightly disappointed he didn’t do something about it because the pressure on the officials is tough to take for a referee. Sometimes when you reflect on a game and look back on it, maybe you might have acted differently. We do that as managers and I’m sure he might think that as a referee. Of course, it’s an emotional game. Apparently they had a cordial discussion. I’ve had a few of them myself but sometimes ended up in the stands with that cordial discussion.”
Match facts:
- Newcastle have won just one of their last 10 Premier League games against Arsenal (W1 D5 L4).
- The Gunners have had a player sent off in three of their last four Premier League games against Newcastle.
- The Gunners haven’t won back to back Premier League games at home since April.
- Arsenal have won their last three Premier League games, the joint best current run in the division (along with Chelsea).
- Mikel Arteta has made an average of 87 passes per game this season, more than any other player.
- Newcastle have played the highest proportion of long passes this season (17%), Arsenal the second lowest (8%).
- The Gunners have only won four of their last 11 Premier League home games (W4 D4 L3).
- Newcastle are 10 points worse off than they were at this point last season.
- The last time Newcastle had fewer points after 19 games in the top-flight was 1988-89 (17). They were relegated at the end of that campaign.
- Arsenal have made 11 errors leading directly to goals, more than any other side.
Possible Line-ups:
Arsenal: Szczesny; Sagna, Vermaelen, Mertesacker, Gibbs; Arteta, Cazorla, Wilshere; Podolski, Walcott , Giroud.
Newcastle: Krul; Perch, Simpson, Coloccini, Santon; Amalfitano, Obertan, Marveaux, Bigirimana; Cisse, Ba.
Prediction: 2-1 victory for the home side.
Arsenal host Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday in what could prove decisive for the Gunners’ Premier League title ambitions. Arsenal sit top of the table with 61 points from 28 matches, five points clear of Manchester City, who still have a game in hand, while Chelsea occupy 7th with 45 points after being held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Burnley at Stamford Bridge last weekend.
This represents a huge opportunity for Mikel Arteta’s side to put further distance between themselves and the chasing pack before facing Brighton away on Wednesday. Chelsea arrive at the Emirates in patchy form under Liam Rosenior, who has won just two of his eight league matches since replacing Enzo Maresca in January despite an encouraging start to his tenure.
Kick-off: 4:30 GMT, Sunday, March 1, 2026
Venue: Emirates Stadium
TV: Sky Sports
Kai Havertz Returns to Haunt Former Club
Mikel Arteta confirmed on Friday that Kai Havertz will train on Saturday ahead of the Chelsea clash, giving the German a chance to feature against his former employers. Havertz has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since early February, but scored the winner in Arsenal’s 1-0 Carabao Cup semi final victory over Chelsea earlier this month.
The 26 year old has endured a nightmare campaign with injuries limiting him to just 158 Premier League minutes this season, though he has still managed two goals and two assists when available. Viktor Gyokeres has flourished in Havertz’s absence, scoring twice in the 4-1 North London Derby demolition of Tottenham last weekend.
Rosenior Yet to Face Top Six Opposition
Liam Rosenior faces his first test against a top six side in the league since taking charge of Chelsea, having only faced teams sitting 7th or lower during his opening eight matches. His winning run needs proper context, given the quality of opposition, with recent dropped points against Leeds and Burnley at Stamford Bridge exposing serious vulnerabilities.
Arteta has beaten Rosenior twice already this season in the two legged Carabao Cup semi final, and the Spanish manager will fancy his chances of completing a treble over the Chelsea boss. Bukayo Saka should be fit despite limping off late against Spurs, while Ben White remains doubtful with a niggle.
Predicted Lineups: Arsenal (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Rice, Zubimendi, Odegaard; Saka, Gyokeres, Eze
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Disasi, Colwill, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Madueke, Palmer, Mudryk; Jackson
Also read: Kai Havertz Injury Update: Real Timeline and Medical Details Revealed!
Arsenal Dragon
Update Given Following Arsenal Injury Scare as Olivia Smith Discharged From Hospital After Being Stretchered Off During FA Cup Win Over Bristol City
Arsenal star Olivia Smith has been discharged from hospital after being stretchered off the field during their Women’s FA Cup game against Bristol City. The forward, who joined the Gunners in the summer, played just under an hour before being forced off with pictures showing a neck brace around the 21 year old at Meadow Park.
This was a worrying moment for Arsenal supporters watching on Sunday afternoon. The Canadian international went down, receiving lengthy treatment before being taken off on a stretcher as a precaution. Thankfully, the injury appears to be far less serious than initially feared.
Left Hospital Yesterday Evening
According to Arsenal reporter Tim Stillman, Olivia Smith left the hospital yesterday evening after tests were run and will return to be assessed this week ahead of the March international break. This is brilliant news for Arsenal, who cannot afford to lose Smith for any length of time, given her importance to the team.
It is believed that her involvement with Canada is still up in the air, with the Canucks facing a triple header of friendlies against Colombia, Argentina, and the United States over the coming two weeks. Arsenal’s next match sees them face London City Lionesses in mid March.
Big Boost for Champions League Hopes
With no video available for Arsenal’s cup game against Bristol City, there was huge concern surrounding Smith’s condition for those unable to attend the game at Meadow Park. Thankfully, what seemed initially to be a severe injury has turned out to be a fairly minor incident.
While Stina Blackstenius and Alessia Russo are both more than capable options to lead the line, it has been Smith who has been Renee Slegers’ favoured choice and proven to be a brilliant signing since her arrival from Liverpool. Having Smith likely available for both legs of the Chelsea Champions League quarter final is a massive boost for Arsenal’s hopes of retaining their European crown.
Arsenal
Arsenal Star Named WSL Player of the Month for January as Midfielder Continues Outstanding Form Following 400th Appearance Milestone
Kim Little has been named January’s Barclays Women’s Super League Player of the Month, recognition that follows her 400th appearance for Arsenal. The captain has made an outstanding start to 2026, completing every minute in the WSL and helping secure two clean sheets and four points from fixtures against Manchester United and Chelsea.
Little drove the midfield against United in the 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium and was again pivotal in the disciplined defensive display at Stamford Bridge that delivered that historic 2-0 win over the Blues. This is absolutely deserved recognition for one of Arsenal’s most influential players, who continues to perform at the highest level despite being 35 years old.
400th Appearance Came in Belgium
Little’s landmark 400th appearance came in Belgium as Arsenal won 4-0 at OH Leuven to close in on a Champions League London derby with Chelsea. The Scottish playmaker came on as a second half substitute in the 82nd minute, replacing Olivia Smith, to reach 400 appearances.
This achievement is even more notable given the time she spent playing in the USA and Australia during her career. Little has become one of the defining figures of the modern Arsenal era, establishing herself as an absolute legend at the club.
Chelsea Awaits in Champions League Quarterfinals
Provided nothing dramatic unfolds at Meadow Park next week, Chelsea awaits in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Arsenal hold a commanding 4-0 advantage from the first leg and are overwhelming favorites to progress to a mouth watering London derby in the last eight.
Little will be central to Arsenal’s hopes of defending their Champions League crown, with the midfielder’s experience and leadership qualities proving invaluable during the knockout stages of major competitions. Her consistent performances continue to set the standard for everyone around her.
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