Football Results

Newcastle finished the season in the bottom part of table but now wants to be much closer to European positions, which is why they brought reinforcements. Arsenal again didn’t qualify for the Champions League and that was a great disappointment for its fans despite playing in the final of the Europa League through which they could have saved the season. Arsenal won both league matches with Newcastle last season.

Newcastle

Newcastle spent the entire previous season in the bottom half of table and consequently they can't be happy. On several occasions they were even positioned in the relegation zone but in the end they had plenty of points more than teams in it. They replaced manager Rafu Benitez with Steve Bruce who has received reinforcements on which their fans base their optimism. New forward is Joelinton from Hoffenheim, which is a great replacement for A. Perez who left the team. Another valuable reinforcement for attacking part of the team is Saint-Maximin from Nice, while Krafth and Willems should reinforce Newcastle’s flanks. Lejeune and Yedlin are out of action due to injuries, while Ritchie is questionable.

Probable lineups Newcastle: Dubravka – Manquillo, Schar, Lascelles, Willems – Ritchie, Shelvey, Longstaff, Almiron – Saint-Maximin, Joelinton

Arsenal

Arsenal didn’t qualify for the Champions League in last two seasons and the first objective in the new season is to end up positioned in top four positions. The Gunners had chance in the Europa League last season, which they could win and thus reach the Champions League but they lost to Chelsea. Unai Emery will continue to be Arsenal’s manager and during the preparatory period they played variably, with evident problems in defence, and near the end of the transfer window they brought stopper D. Luiz from Chelsea as well as Tierney who should play at the left flank. Before that the Gunners bought forward Pepe and midfielder Ceballos was borrowed from Real Madrid, while it remains somewhat unclear why they sold Iwobi to Everton.

Probable lineups Arsenal: Leno – Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Monreal, Kolasinac – Guendouzi, G. Xhaka, Ceballos – Nelson, Lacazette, Aubameyang

Verdict:

Arsenal is objective favourite to win but it doesn’t mean that will easily win. Newcastle has a solid team and can be tough opponent when playing at home. We forecast that the home team will score, while the guests should definitely do the same.

Pick:  Both teams to score 1.72 - 72/100 @1XBet