Arsenal v Newcastle United: Gunners aim to rub salt in United's wounds
Newcastle United haven't won on their travels all season and will be hurting after taking the lead three times at Old Trafford but leaving with nothing. Today they take on Arsenal at the Emirates in the evening kick-off and Alan Pardew will be desperate for his side to get a result.
Arsenal have had a fair few ding-dong games with Newcastle down the years. Only last season they needed a last-gasp goal from Thomas Vermaelen to secure all three points while the season before that Andy Carroll stunned the home fans by scoring the only goal of the game. This will be another tight affair but Arsenal, who didn't play on Boxing Day, should be feeling fresher and fitter.
The Newcastle United players need to be picked up following that seven-goal thriller at Manchester United and I'm sure Pardew will find the right words to fire them up. If not then Arsenal could carve them open with the creativity and guile of Cazorla, Wilshere and Arteta.
There's no love loss between Wenger and Pardew but both should be on their best behaviour following the fall-out from Sir Alex Ferguson's rant at the officials on Boxing Day. But who will come out on top? Could Demba Ba, who Arsene Wenger has ruled out making a January move for, make the Frenchman think again with a masterclass up front? Our pundits have their say.
Arsenal v Newcastle United; Kick Off 5.30pm December 29 2012
Prediction Panel
|
Arsenal |
Josh Ben Moshe |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Aston Villa |
Frank Pattison |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Chelsea |
Joe Tyler |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Everton |
Chris Goodwin |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
Fulham |
Neil Springate |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Liverpool |
Dave Disciascio |
0 |
V |
2 |
|
Man City |
Callum Rothwell |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Man United |
Alex Richert |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
Newcastle |
Greg Hall |
0 |
V |
1 |
|
Norwich |
Sue Read |
2 |
V |
3 |
|
QPR |
John Jaycock |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Reading |
Jon Keen |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Southampton |
Andy Saunders |
4 |
V |
0 |
|
Stoke City |
Jack Heaney |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Sunderland |
Tony Ratton |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Swansea |
Jim Barry |
5 |
V |
2 |
|
Spurs |
Adam Crawford |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
West Brom |
Andy Wakeman |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
West Ham |
Matt Beeby |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Wigan |
Jimmy Shine |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OUR EXPERTS |
|
|
|
|
|
Writer |
Colin Illingworth |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Steve Coulter |
3 |
V |
0 |
|
Writer |
Hugh Larkin |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Mitch Waddon |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Writer |
Chris Pettitt |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Writer |
Sarshar Hosseinnia |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Blackburn fan |
Terry Kennedy |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Bolton fan |
David Blackburn |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Boro fan |
Sue Gardener |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Pompey fan |
Dan Taylor |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Pompey fan |
Peter Rendle |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
West Ham fan |
Nigel Telfer |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
Wolves fan |
Chris Cox |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Editor |
Antony Melvin |
1 |
V |
0 |
Panel Verdict
Home win.
Home: 24; Draw: 2; Away: 3. TBA 5.
* Do we have it right or do you know better? We’d love to hear from you.
