Newcastle vs. Arsenal: Team News, Predicted Line-Up, Live Stream & TV Info
Arsenal will look to recover from their Champions League elimination with a win over Newcastle at St. James' Park.
Travelling to the north-east is never easy, but John Carver's men are in the midst of a rotten run of form. With the coach's future in doubt, the club seem to be a caught in a strange transitional period. It looks as if many of their players simply can't wait for the season to end.
Arsenal, on the other hand, still have plenty to play for. A win in this game would exert real pressure on Liverpool and Manchester United in the race for European qualification ahead of their meeting on Sunday.
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Date: Saturday, March 20
Time: 3 p.m. GMT/11 a.m. ET
Venue: St. James' Park, Newcastle
TV Info: NBCSN (U.S.)
Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra (U.S.)
Form Guide (last five results of both teams)
- L (3-0) vs. Everton
- L (0-1) vs. Manchester United
- W (1-0) vs. Aston Villa
- L (5-0) vs. Manchester City
- D (1-1) vs. Crystal Palace
Arsenal:
- W (0-2) vs. Monaco
- W (3-0) vs. West Ham
- W (1-2) vs. Manchester United
- W (1-2) vs. QPR
- W (2-0) vs. Everton
Carver's side are in poor form, with just one win from their last six games. However, they'll be keen to turn that around at St. James' Park: Newcastle have not lost back-to-back home games in the league for almost a year.
Arsenal have plenty of reason to be confident: They have won each of their last six outings against Newcastle, scoring 18 goals in the process.
Team News
Newcastle in the midst of an injury crisis. As Fabricio Coloccini begins a three-match ban, the BBC report that Carver has just 13 senior outfield players to call upon. With the Argentine skipper out, Dutch full-back Daryl Janmaat may be asked to fill in as emergency cover at centre-back.
Arsenal had plenty of their problems at centre-half earlier this season, but are in a far stronger position fitness-wise now. Tomas Rosicky returns to the squad after a bout of illness, while there were no injuries suffered in the midweek trip to Monaco.
However, it was a gruelling game, and Arsene Wenger may look to rotate his squad to provide some freshness. Aaron Ramsey and Theo Walcott, both substitutes on Tuesday, are candidates to start. Meanwhile, Alexis Sanchez could well be afforded a much-needed rest.
Predicted Newcastle XI: Tim Krul; Ryan Taylor, Daryl Janmaat, Mike Williamson, Jonas Gutierrez; Jack Colback, Moussa Sissoko; Yoann Gouffran, Remy Cabella, Sammy Ameobi; Ayoze Perez
Predicted Arsenal XI: David Ospina; Calum Chambers, Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal; Aaron Ramsey, Francis Coquelin; Theo Walcott, Santi Cazorla, Danny Welbeck; Olivier Giroud
Players to Watch
Newcastle: Moussa Sissoko
The Frenchman's form has not been quite so spectacular in the second half of this season, but he still has the power to cause Arsenal plenty of problems. His driving runs from midfield are sure to provide a stern test for countryman Francis Coquelin.
Arsenal: Olivier Giroud
One of Arsenal's own French contingent is among the Premier League's form players, with nine goals in his last 11 top-flight starts.
An injury-ridden Newcastle defence will have to perform heroics if they are to keep Giroud at bay.
James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout the 2014-15 season. Follow him on Twitter here.
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