Arsenal vs Newcastle United: Premier League Preview & Potential Line-ups

There's hardly a better way to kick things off in 2023 than a mouth-watering Premier League contest between pacesetters Arsenal and high-flying Newcastle United. 

Mikel Arteta's side capped off a stellar 2022 with an overwhelming 4-2 triumph at Brighton & Hove Albion, taking advantage of Manchester City's slip-up against Everton to extend their lead at the top of seven points.

Despite boasting a healthy lead at the summit, the Spanish manager wants his men to keep their feet firmly on the ground after winning five consecutive league fixtures.

Since going down 3-1 at Manchester United in early September, the Gunners have strung together ten consecutive top-flight games without losing (W9, D1) and look to be running away with the title in January.

However, there's no room for complacency, as the Magpies will likely put Arsenal's title credentials to a severe test on Tuesday, even though Leeds United held them to an underwhelming 0-0 draw on New Year's Eve. 

Eddie Howe's lads have been in clinical form this season. Unbeaten in the Premier League side late August, Newcastle could be the only English side currently able to knock the London outfit off their perch. 

Match Preview

Arsenal

Arteta's men have turned the Emirates Stadium into a fortress this season, winning all seven Premier League outings and could make it eight in a row at a start of a new top-flight season for the first time in history. 

There's a fair probability that the Gunners to set an unprecedented club milestone this midweek, considering they've won their last 11 home encounters against Newcastle in all competitions.

Conceding first would unlikely derail Arsenal's chances of coming out on top, as they've won both top-flight home games in which they fell behind this season. 

Newcastle United

If there was a time for Newcastle to defy their 'Emirates jinx,' it's now. Howe's men have won their last three away league outings, most recently dispatching Leicester City 3-0 on Boxing Day.

On top of that, they've won their last two Premier League visits to London and could make it three on the trot in the capital for the first time since a run of four in 2014.

However, Newcastle's proneness to commencing a new calendar year on the back foot could be a problem, with the Magpies winning their first league match in just one of the last ten calendar years (D2, L7).

Arsenal vs Newcastle United Potential Line-ups

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Aaron Ramsdale; Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Oleksandr Zinchenko; Granit Xhaka, Thomas Partey; Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli; Eddie Nketiah. 

Newcastle United (4-3-3): Nick Pope; Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Sven Botman, Dan Burn; Sean Longstaff, Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton; Miguel Almiron, Callum Wilson, Allan Saint-Maximin.