ARSENAL will be hoping summer signings Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres can help them break their Newcastle curse.
The Gunners travel to face the Magpies at St James’ Park on Sunday, looking to return to winning ways in the Premier League.
Last time out, Mikel Arteta’s side salvaged a point late on against Manchester City in the 1-1 draw at the Emirates.
But as title rivals Liverpool keep on winning, Arsenal must do what they can to keep pace.
Newcastle will be no easy feat, though, as the Gunners have lost each of their last three visits to the North East.
The last time Arteta’s side tasted victory against the Magpies on their own turf was back in 2023 with a 2-0 scoreline.
Since then, the fixture has been dominated by the Toon with each game at St James’ Park ending in a home win.
Last season, Newcastle beat Arsenal TWICE at home, with wins coming in the Premier League and Carabao Cup semi-final.
How Arsenal can break Arteta’s Newcastle curse?
Arsenal go to Newcastle on Super Sunday, a second take on 13th in what’s already being billed as a must-win game for Mikel Arteta.
If Liverpool beat Crystal Palace on Saturday, the Gunners will be eight points behind the league leaders going into this game.
Eddie Howe has Arteta’s number. So what can Arsenal do differently?
This time, obviously, everyone remembers the Carabao Cup defeat for Arsenal at Newcastle last season.
In the last three games at St James’ Park, they’ve lost without scoring a goal.
Arsenal have got to score.
Declan Rice will be key and Eberechi Eze might play on the left and not the ten role.
If Newcastle does decide to go and press high, there is Viktor Gyokeres who can run in behind.
Then it’s this danger zone here for Newcastle, where if they press and Arsenal can beat the press, little ball over the top, they’ve now all of a sudden got Eze in here.
To beat this Newcastle midfield, which is a fantastic, combative three in midfield, Arsenal have got to be a flexible triangle.
So it might be that Rice drops in with Martin Zubimendi to make a double pivot and Mikel Merino comes in so he is the out ball between the lines.
And then if they lose possession again, it might be Merino comes in with Zubimendi and Rice as a three to be solid and be compact against the Toon.
But if they get it wrong, Newcastle are so good in transition and changing the ball over and going the other way, then Arsenal could be under threat.
The way out is to be that flexible triangle in midfield to make sure there is always one or two at the base and then play out.
Why isn’t it working for Viktor Gyokeres?
The physical part of the game is where there have been a few question marks, despite what a powerhouse he looked like in Portugal.
This is the Premier League we’re talking about.
So even if you’re getting your goals against Leeds and Burnley and whoever it is, they were games that Arsenal struggled in last year, to struggle to finish those teams off.
So if Gyokeres gets 20 goals and they all come against teams in the bottom half and Arsenal win all those games, he’s worth his weight in gold.
Arsenal are still developing their patterns of play still and Gyokeres would benefit from them being more direct.
They knew with Kai Havertz where he was going to run and they have to learn that amongst each other now with the Swede.
There were good signs between Eberechi Eze and the striker in the draw against Man City.
That is an important thing as they can be key for Arsenal’s success this season.
Will Arteta go for it in a big game for a change?
Mikel Arteta has been adamant in the last week or so that Arsenal are not scared to go for it.
They’re not scared to go gung-ho. Not quite the wild attacking style of Ange Postecoglou.
But this has been a criticism levied at Arteta for a while. That he’s a little bit too cautious, particularly in transition
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