Arsenal VS Newcastle: The Preview

Arsenal's first game of the season is at St James Park against a Rafa Benitez-less Newcastle. Newcastle have spent a fair chunk in the summer bringing in Joelinton, Allan Saint Maximin, Jetro Willems, Emil Krafth and cult hero, Andy Carroll. But they also have lost some players in Salomon Rondon, Ayoze Perez, Mohamed Diame, Joselu, Jacob Murphy and Freddie Woodman. Arsenal are surely expecting a win, but will the squad be strong enough? Here's the predicted lineups for both clubs

Arsenal

Newcastle

A strong team for Newcastle, but a weak team for Arsenal. Players like Pepe, Tierney, Torreira, Bellerin, Holding are unavailable or have a low chance of playing. But surely that Arsenal team can still beat Newcastle, right? Well if you actually compare players 1 by 1 its not that far off.

> means better

= means same

< means worse

Leno > Dubravka

Maitland Niles < Yedlin

Kolasinac > Willems

Monreal < Schar

Monreal < Lascelles

Luiz > Schar

Luiz > Lascelles

Sokratis = Schar

Sokratis = Lascelles

Ceballos > Shelvey

Ceballos > Hayden

Xhaka > Shelvey

Xhaka > Hayden

Nelson > Saint Maximin

Aubameyang > Atsu

Lacazette > Joelinton

Lacazette > Almiron

Although Arsenal's lineup is better, Newcastle's isn't far off. Of course if Arsenal had their ususal lineup i'd expect only 1 or 2 to be in Newcastle's favour. Newcastle with the backing of the crowd and that it's the first game at the season at home, they will sure be tough to beat.

Prediction:

Newcastle 1 - 3 Arsenal

Goal Scorers:

16' Aubameyang

39' Luiz

63' Lacazette

86' Joelinton

Although Newcastle don't look too bad on paper, the likes of Aubameyang, Lacazette and Ceballos I think will really affect Newcastle. As well as the new manager, Newcastle don't look strong enough as there are some purely bad players in there team. There is some good, but I think the bad will get exposed. Arsenal to win on match day 1.