Newcastle head into their penultimate match of the 2024/25 season today, with a 4:30pm kick-off away at Arsenal — their final away fixture of the campaign.
Despite Friday’s results going against them — with Aston Villa and Chelsea both winning to tighten the race — the mission remains clear for Eddie Howe’s men: win today, and Champions League qualification is sealed.
A victory at the Emirates would not only secure that coveted top-four spot but also see Newcastle leapfrog Arsenal into second place. Remarkably, the Magpies have already beaten the Gunners in all three of their previous meetings this season.
Predicted Line-up
Newcastle XI (3-4-3): Pope – Schar, Botman, Burn – Murphy, Guimaraes, Tonali, Livramento – Barnes, Isak, Gordon.
One of the biggest surprises could be Sven Botman’s return. The Dutch centre-back, who limped off against Chelsea with a knee issue, has reportedly traveled with the squad and is expected to start despite limited training.
If Botman features, Murphy is likely to remain at right wing-back, with Schar and Burn flanking him in a three-man defence and Livramento on the left. The attacking trio should see Barnes and Gordon operating wide of Isak, with Bruno and Tonali forming the midfield base.
As for the hosts, Arsenal may welcome back Declan Rice, who returned to training this week, while Kai Havertz is also pushing for a return after a long injury layoff.
This is a massive game with high stakes. Newcastle will hope to replicate the fearless performance they showed in their Carabao Cup semi-final and clinch a historic Champions League place.
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