Giroud & Walcott Will Fire Arsenal To Finish 2nd

Match Preview – Newcastle vs Arsenal – Premier League – 21.03.15

If you take the Monaco game in isolation from the first leg it was an impressive performance that continued our vein of good form. Exiting the Champions League once again is a bitter blow but now Arsenal has to focus on the competitions they are still in.

Should Arsenal take their second leg Monaco performance and apply it to their remaining domestic games I see no reason why Arsenal should not retain the FA Cup and finish 2nd at the very least.

The title is almost over but there is still the faintest glimmer of hope there. Mourinho is claiming the title is still open but that is mostly likely to make Chelsea winning the title look like a heroic victory rather than a huge lead being cut as their 2015 performances have fallen well below their early season results.

That said, it is not over for Arsenal and we must play as though it is not. Playing for 2nd could easily see us drop to 3rd or 4th whilst playing for 1st could see us remarkably crowned in the greatest comeback ever or finish 2nd with a respectable points gap.

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Arsenal will be tired for this match but we face an opponent who can feel much more hard done by with injuries than we have been this season. Newcastle claim to only have 13 fit outfield players to choose from and this could be hindrance or help to Arsenal.

Gabriel is back to fitness and Ramsey, who changed the game in Monaco, did not start on Tuesday so will have more in the tank as they say. Ramsey has scored in his last two games whilst also paying attention to his defensive duties and it looks as though his form from last season is on its way back.

The Gunners have a good record at St James’ Park although the matches have never been exactly easy. Tuesday night would have been as mentally exhausting as it was physically and therein lies Arsenal’s greatest obstacle – will their heads be right?

In previous seasons our ‘glorious failures’ have motivated us to push ourselves up the table and kick-started a run of form but this season is a tad different as we were already in good form. If Arsenal are mentally unshackled we could be in for another treat of a performance. If not, this could be a turgid afternoon.

Should Arsenal put the Monaco exit to one side, take the positives from the performance and play Newcastle with equanimity and purpose then I am confident they will claim 2nd place from Manchester City.

Giroud and Walcott have been the bane of Newcastle for a few years now and I fancy them both to get on the score sheet today. A win over Newcastle continues Arsenal’s momentum ahead of a tricky April fixture list.

Arsenal from; Szczesny, Ospina, Gibbs, Gabriel, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Chambers, Monreal, Bellerin, Ramsey, Coquelin, Özil, Rosicky, Walcott, Welbeck, Cazorla, Alexis, Giroud, Akpom.

Predicted Line-up

Ospina, Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Özil, Cazorla, Ramsey, Alexis, Giroud

I expect to see substitute appearances from Welbeck, Chambers and Walcott.

Match Quote

“[On resting Alexis] It’s just that every game now is so important, you always have a hesitation to do it.”  – Arsène Wenger

Last 3 Meetings

• Arsenal 4-1 Newcastle (13.12.2014)
• Arsenal 3-0 Newcastle (28.04.2014)
• Newcastle 0-1 Arsenal (29.12.2013)

Form Guide

Arsenal Last 5
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Newcastle Last 5
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Opposition watch

Cisse and Coloccini are both suspended for this match leaving the Magpies manager, John Carver, with just 13 outfield players to choose from.

Newcastle have little to play for and their manager has predicted a huge summer clear out so it’s hard to imagine their players being up for much. They aren’t in any real threat of relegation and barring an unbeaten run and other results going their way any pre-season hopes of a European spot are completely dead in the water.

Factfile

• Giroud has 6 goals in 5 games against Newcastle
• Walcott too has 6 goals against the Magpies
• Newcastle haven’t beaten Arsenal in their last 6 attempts
• Arsenal have won 13 of 16 games in 2015
• Only Liverpool (26) have picked up more points in the league than Arsenal (24) in 2015
• Arsenal have had 15 different scorers in the league this year, more than any other team. They have had 21 different scorers in all competitions
• Newcastle haven’t beaten Arsenal at home in a decade
• The Magpies haven’t lost two back to back home games in the league for almost a year

Prediction

4-0 to Arsenal with Walcott, Alexis and Giroud on the scoresheet.

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