Arsenal Could Take Second Away At Newcastle

Arsenal could move into second position in the Premier League tomorrow should they see off Newcastle away from home and second placed Manchester City slip up at home to West Bromwich Albion. Such an outcome would mean that Arsene Wenger`s men would come to within four points of league leaders Chelsea, the Blues having two games in hand. Otherwise, a defeat could see the North London side fall into fourth position, should Manchester United take down Liverpool on Sunday.

Newcastle are 10 points from the relegation zone and are all but safe for another season. They could, however, nose-dive into 13th place if they fail to pick up a point against Arsenal and both Crystal Palace and West Brom earn themselves wins against Stoke and City respectively. The Magpies could also move to within one point of 10th placed West Ham with a win.

The two sides have met once this season, this being back in December at the Emirates Stadium. The home team ran out the comprehensive winners here, the Gunners managing to bag four goals to Newcastle`s one. The North East club were still under the management of former boss Alan Pardew before he left to joined fellow Premier League also-rans Crystal Palace.

Olivier Giroud scored the only goal of the first half, with Santi Cazorla doubling Arsenal`s lead nine minutes after the restart. This was the beginning of the visitors` capitulation with the Gunners making it three, again through Giroud, four minutes later. Ayoze Perez reduced the deficit on the 63 minute mark though Cazorla completed the second brace of the match with two minutes remaining, putting the result beyond all doubt.

Both Skybet and Stan James have 8/1 on exactly five goals being scored again tomorrow whilst most bookmakers are offering 22/1 on Arsenal being able to claim another 4-1 victory. Giroud is a 6/5 chance with a number of bookies to score at any time or punters can also pick up a price of 7/1 (unibet) on him scoring another two or more goals against the Magpies.

Indeed, it is Wenger`s men who are the favourites to see of their opposition despite being away from home tomorrow. The Reds are currently available for backing at a price of 8/13 with most bookmakers. Compare this to the best price on a Newcastle victory, that being 5/1 across the board. A draw is considered to be a slightly more likely outcome, available for selection at 10/3 at both bet365 and betfair.

John Carver has been in charge of the home club for five St James` Park games. Apart from the first that ended in a 3-3 draw against Burnley, the Tyneside club have failed to score more than one goal a match on any subsequent occasion. As a result at this profligacy at home, it is 14/5 (betway) on the Magpies grabbing over 1.5 goals tomorrow.

Arsenal are currently unbeaten in five matches in all competitions. At home in the Premier League, they have not dropped a point since being defeated 2-1 by Manchester United in late November.

The Gunners have kept clean sheets in four of their last five Emirates encounters in the top tier of English football and can be backed at 19/10 with Coral to win to nil once again. Alternatively, it is 16/1 with the same bookmakers should you think the match will end as a goalless draw.

Having scored three goals, it has been Giroud who has been the top scorer in these last five home games. He has opened the scoring on all three occasions and can be backed at 22/5 to break the deadlock once again.

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20/03/2015     © Frixo 2024