Paul Merson verdict on Newcastle United six weeks into the season… | OneFootball

Paul Merson speaking about Newcastle United.

United with six weeks of the new season having gone by.

A very intense period of time with NUFC playing every midweek, due to Champions League and Carabao Cup.

Eddie Howe and team now preparing for their next match. A 4.30pm kick-off on Sunday, home to Arsenal.

Paul Merson discussing how things now stand for Newcastle United as they prepare for this St James’ Park clash.

Paul Merson talking to Sportskeeda ahead of Newcastle v Arsenal:

“Newcastle always turn up against Arsenal.

“The fans at St James’ Park are always good, but they just get a bit more electric in this fixture!

“Arsenal have lost their last three games there, so this a tricky game for them.

“If Liverpool are held to a draw at Crystal Palace, Arsenal wouldn’t mind walking away with a point here. But if the league leaders get another three points, this game automatically falls into the must-win category.

“When you look at Arsenal, they would have faced all of Liverpool, Manchester City and Newcastle after this weekend.

“Imagine spending big and not beating any of these three teams that finished in the top five last season? Where is the progress then?

“Arsenal have a good run of fixtures coming up after this game. But if you don’t beat Newcastle, you are basically entering that run with an eight-point lead to chase down.

“If you’re a team in the title race, you don’t want to be playing catch up when the easy fixtures come along, you want to use them to get away from other contenders and kick on instead!

“Arsenal must not sit back in this game, if they do that, Newcastle will score. I’d play Saka, Eze and Viktor Gyokeres as the front-three here but I don’t think Arteta will do that if I’m being honest. I have a feeling Gabriel Martinelli will start instead of Eze. He’s a disciplined player and can be useful with his pace. But Eze is the X-factor, he can unlock defences like he showed it against City.

“We saw how Newcastle gave Liverpool a strong fight with just 10 men at St James’ Park earlier this season. Liverpool were very fortunate to come away with a win in that game.

“If you’re Arsenal, you want to match what Liverpool did here, but I don’t think they can do it.

“Prediction: Newcastle 1 Arsenal 1”

I actually think Paul Merson is pretty spot on with his analysis here.

As an Arsenal fan, he has based much of this from a Gunners perspective BUT if Newcastle United win on Sunday, they will go just one point behind Mikel Arteta’s side.

Like Paul Merson says, the fact is that Newcastle United have won all of the last there meetings between the two clubs at St James’ Park. Indeed, Arsenal have lost all three without scoring a single goal.

You have to go back almost two and a half years since Arsenal last scored on Tyneside and with Nick Pope having kept four clean sheets in five Premier League matches so far this season, Eddie Howe has his team defensively very sound.

With his attacking options increasing, Gordon no longer suspended and the likes of Woltemade and Elanga getting fully up to speed after signing in the summer, it may well be the case that one or more NUFC goals will win this on Sunday.

Newcastle United fixtures (All of the Champions League matches will also be available to watch on TV in the UK):

Sunday 28 September– Newcastle v Arsenal (4.30pm) Sky Sports

Wednesday 1st October: Union SG vs Newcastle United (5.45pm)

Sunday 5 October– Newcastle v Forest (2pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 18 October – Brighton v Newcastle (3pm)

Tuesday 21st October: Newcastle United vs Benfica (8pm)

Saturday 25 October – Newcastle v Fulham (3pm)

Sunday 2 November – West Ham v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports

Wednesday 5th November: Newcastle United vs Athletic Club (8pm)

Sunday 9 November – Brentford v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports