Ace Football previews the FA Cup match between Arsenal and Newcastle United, and offers betting tips, odds, line-ups, and team news.
Arsenal begin the defense of their FA Cup title by welcoming Newcastle United to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday evening for a third-round clash.
The Gunners won a record 14th crown in the competition last season. They’re also on a three-match winning run and will hope to extend that against a struggling Newcastle, who reached the FA Cup quarter-finals in 2019/20.
The last time these two sides met ended in a 4-0 win for Arsenal at the Emirates last February. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Nicolas Pepe, Mesut Ozil, and Alexandre Lacazette were all on target. It extended the club’s superb run over Newcastle to 14 wins in 15 games (L1), including four victories in a row.
But with both managers expected to make changes to their respective line-ups, along with the element of surprise the FA Cup normally provides, nothing is set in stone just yet.
Arsenal Form & Stats
After that 4-1 loss to Manchester City in the EFL Cup quarter-finals, Arsenal responded with three excellent victories. The club defeated Chelsea (3-1), Brighton (1-0), and West Brom (4-0) to climb up to 11th in the Premier League table. In fact, they’re just six points outside the top-four as things stand.
The pressure, therefore, has been lifted for Mikel Arteta. The Gunners boss has endured his fair share of critics recently, but he appears to have turned things around just in time. And, in the first of two meetings with Newcastle in January, he’ll want to make a statement against the Magpies on Saturday.
History favors Arsenal heavily in this fixture, of course. The hosts have won all four of their last encounters with Newcastle in the Premier League, making it 14 wins in 15 games since August 2011. The visitors last won at the Emirates in November 2010.
The 4-0 win over West Brom last week, meanwhile, secured Arsenal back-to-back clean sheets for the first time since October. It’s also worth noting that six of their last 10 goals have come in the first half.
Key Team Stats
- Won their last three league games.
- Conceded just one goal in their last three league games.
- Scored 6 of their last 10 goals in the first half.
- Won 14 of their last 15 games against Newcastle (L1), including their last four.
- Won to nil in their last four home games against Newcastle.
- Alexandre Lacazette has scored 5 goals in his last 4 appearances in all competitions.
- Only been eliminated in the FA third-round once in their last 24 campaigns.
- Won the FA Cup 4 times in the last 7 years.
Newcastle United Form & Stats
Trouble is clearly on Newcastle’s doorstep. The visitors are winless in their last six games in all competitions (D2 L4) and the goals appear to have dried up, having scored just twice in their previous five matches. Add the fact they haven’t scored in their last four visits to the Emirates, which all ended in defeat, it doesn’t bode well.
A 1-0 loss to Brentford in the EFL Cup quarter-finals was particularly disappointing. Steve Bruce has made it a priority to progress in cup competitions, but that dismal defeat suggests otherwise. And with a lengthy injury list, the Magpies boss will probably ring the changes for the visit to London.
The six-time FA Cup winners haven’t claimed the famous trophy since 1955. Ideally, they would like another tilt at a seventh crown. But with a relegation battle looming for the 15th-placed side in the Premier League, along with a lack of options, Bruce could prioritize the trip to Sheffield United next Tuesday.
Key Team Stats
- Lost 4 of their last 6 games in all competitions (D2).
- Scored just 2 goals in their last five games in all competitions.
- Won just 2 of their 7 away league games this season (D2 L3).
- Last won away to Arsenal in November 2010 by 1-0, thanks to an Andy Carroll goal.
- Lost 3-0 in their last 3 away games against Arsenal in the FA Cup.
Team News
Arsenal
Out: N/A.
Doubts: Thomas Partey, Gabriel, Reiss Nelson.
Newcastle United
Out: Ryan Fraser, Allan Saint-Maximin, Jamal Lewis.
Doubts: N/A.
Predicted Line-ups
(Note: The image will change to the official XI once they’re both announced)
Head-To-Head Record in FA Cup
Match Facts
Betting Tips
More Odds
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