“Well,” says Patrick van IJzendoorn, “at least Portadown managed to score.”
My favourite part of this clubt is the windmill celebration. Yep, you the man.
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“All to play for,” says Bill Hargreaves. “Love the match programme cover with a vintage photo of Lee Dixon and Paul Gascoigne, back in the days when you didn’t want too much starch in your shorts, or hair. Play up, play up!”
Team news
Eddie Nketiah makes his full Premier League debut for Arsenal, while Dani Ceballos plays in the league for the first time since the start of November. The wing-backs Danny Rose and Valentino Lazaro make their first starts since moving to Newcastle on loan.
Arsenal (4-2-3-1) Leno; Bellerin, Mustafi, David Luiz, Saka; Ceballos, Xhaka; Pepe, Ozil, Aubameyang; Nketiah.
Substitutes: Martinez, Sokratis, Kolasinac, Torreira, Willock, Martinelli, Lacazette.
Newcastle (3-4-2-1) Dubravka; Fernandez, Lascelles, Clark; Lazaro, Bentaleb, S Longstaff, Rose; Almiron, Saint-Maximin; Joelinton.
Substitutes: Darlow, Schar, Lejeune, M Longstaff, Ritchie, Hayden, Atsu.
Referee Lee Mason.
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Preamble
Hello. When Arsenal won at Newcastle on the opening weekend of the season, you would have got exceedingly long odds on this return fixture being a mid-table clash. A combination of Arsenal taking the season off and Steve Bruce producing a minor miracle means that only goal difference separates the two teams, who sit in 11th and 12th.
Arsenal are threatening to make progress under Mikel Arteta, even though results have been mediocre. While they are a medium-term project, Newcastle’s limitations – and a grotesque injury list – have given them little choice but to live hand to mouth all season. They have done it brilliantly, even if results have sometimes been better than performances.
This may be a mid-table clash, but that doesn’t make it meaningless. The table is very tight this season, the top three aside, and both teams could still be dragged into a relegation battle. More to the point, they could still challenge for the all-new Fifth Place Trophy. A win for either side today would move them within five points of Sheffield United and a possible Champions League place.
Kick off is at 4.30pm.
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