Arsenal went from competing with Liverpool for the Premier League title to being embroiled in a top-five battle for a place in the UEFA Champions League next season.
One of their main competitors for their Champions League slot is Newcastle United, and they will lock horns on May 18 in a match that could have massive ramifications for both teams.
It has been another near-miss campaign for Arsenal. They put the pressure on Liverpool for most of the season before wilting away in the second half.
Poor results against West Ham United, Brentford, Everton, Brighton & Hove Albion, Crystal Palace, and AFC Bournemouth cost them dearly, leaving manager Mikel Arteta to reach deep into his bag of excuses.
Arsenal have gone 21 years without lifting a Premier League title, and next season is make or break for the Gunners.
However, Arsenal must first navigate these final three fixtures of the 2024/25 season, and they need to be wary as they are surrounded by sharks hungry for blood.
Newcastle are in fourth place on the league log at the time of writing. The Magpies will test Arsenal’s grip on second place.
Newcastle started the campaign sluggishly but have shifted gears, especially in the second half, carrying that momentum into the League Cup final to beat Liverpool at Wembley.
Eddie Howe’s men are desperate to put as much distance between themselves and fifth-place Chelsea.
Chelsea and Newcastle are tied on 63 points at the time of writing. The coming games are a chance to create separation and ensure their Champions League place.
All roads now lead to the Emirates, where Arsenal and Newcastle are set for a high-stakes showdown. Fans will not want to miss this one.
Grab your Arsenal vs Newcastle tickets now from Seatsnet.com and witness the drama unfold live.
Match Preview
Arteta had rage, frustration, and anger in his eyes after watching his side lose back-to-back Premier League games against Bournemouth for the first time.
The former Manchester City assistant navigated a season punctuated by injuries to key players.
He can point out that Liverpool won the league with fewer points than Arsenal managed in the last two campaigns.
However, Arteta made his bed and should lie in it. He deserves the egg on his face for their shortcomings.
The Spaniard has a massive say in transfer decisions and chose to recruit an injury-prone Riccardo Calafiori and make him his marquee summer addition.
Arsenal did not sign a striker despite knowing Kai Havertz was not up to the task and that Gabriel Jesus was often injured.
Even the injuries have Arteta’s blueprint all over them. He was guilty of overusing talisman Bukayo Saka before he sustained the setback that forced him to miss almost three months of action.
A Champions League slot is a priority for Arteta ahead of a pivotal transfer window and the 2025/26 season.
What looked like a foregone conclusion weeks ago was no longer after the final whistle at the Emirates following the loss to the Cherries.
Suddenly, they have chinks in their armour for opponents to exploit, and third-placed Manchester City (three points away) are breathing down their necks.
Newcastle are four points away but can make the final matchday one of the most nail-biting in recent memory if they secure a result in North London.
They have been a thorn in Arsenal’s flesh over the past two seasons since their 1-0 win over the Gunners last term, derailing their Premier League title hunt via a controversial Anthony Gordon goal.
Newcastle stoked the enmity when they beat Arsenal comprehensively and knocked them out in the semi-final of the League Cup.
The Magpies have had a spring in their step since they won that title and will back themselves to pile the misery on a vulnerable Arsenal.
Head to Head
Newcastle won the reverse fixture in Tyneside, sealing a 1-0 victory. They have had the upper hand over their last five games across all competitions (W4, L1).
However, their records are even in the Premier League over their last five meetings, with both sides winning two games (D1).
Arsenal have not lost to Newcastle at Emirates Stadium in the Premier League since 2010, with the Gunners winning 4-1 in the fixture in February 2024.
It will be Arsenal’s last game at the Emirates this season, and they will want to avoid leaving a sour memory, especially after the Bournemouth defeat.
But they are up against a stubborn/hungry Newcastle side eager to book their place among Europe’s elites. It should be quite the spectacle.
Best XIs
Arsenal
David Raya should retain his spot between the posts, with Jurrien Timber likely to slot in at right-back, needing to bounce back from his underwhelming showing against Paris Saint-Germain.
William Saliba and Jakub Kiwior will be the central pairing at the heart of the defence, while Myles Lewis-Skelly starts at left-back.
Thomas Partey will anchor proceedings in the engine room, and Declan Rice brings relentless energy and box-to-box drive.
Captain Martin Odegaard will take up his usual creative role, orchestrating play in the final third, hoping to give a better account of himself than his recent performances.
Up front, the attacking trio of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Leandro Trossard brings pace, flair, and a real goal threat. They are more than capable of unsettling Newcastle.
Predicted XI
(4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli.
Newcastle
Nick Pope starts in goal while captain Kieran Trippier takes up his usual role at right-back, offering leadership and creativity.
Fabian Schar and Dan Burn form the central defensive duo, combining aerial dominance with composure. Tino Livramento should get the nod at left-back, adding energy and forward thrust.
In midfield, Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, and Joe Willock will believe they can outhustle their Arsenal counterparts and cause dangerous turnovers with their counter-pressing.
Jacob Murphy and Harvey Barnes will be on hand to pounce, with Arsenal’s top transfer target, Alexander Isak, leading the line as the primary goal threat.
Predicted XI
(4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento; Guimarães, Tonali, Willock; Murphy, Isak, Barnes.
Ticket Information
Want to experience the thrill of Premier League football live? Secure your tickets through official club websites.
For great deals and a wide selection of seats, especially for games at the Emirates, buy Arsenal tickets at Seatsnet.com, a secondary marketplace for finding tickets to every Premier League fixture.
How to Watch in the United Kingdom
Watch all the 2024/25 Premier League games live on Sky Sports, TNT Sports, and Amazon Prime Video.
Sky Sports has the most comprehensive coverage with 128 live matches, followed by TNT Sports with 52 games, and Amazon Prime Video with 20 exclusive streams.
