Newcastle United welcome Arsenal to St James’ Park on Sunday, and pundit Gary Neville has stated the he wants the Gunners to come out on top.
Both teams have something to play for this weekend. Newcastle are battling to qualify for the Champions League, while Arsenal are still in the mix for the Premier League title.
The Magpies are more likely to finish in the top four than Arsenal are to win the league, with Mikel Arteta needing a slip up from Manchester City. They did not do that on Wednesday night, beating West Ham 3-0 with Erling Haaland breaking a Premier League record in the process.
Pep Guardiola’s side have the chance to go four points clear at the top this weekend. They face Leeds on Saturday, in what will be Sam Allardyce’s first game in charge of the Yorkshire club.
A win for Man City will put Arsenal under real pressure, and Neville is hoping they rise to it the following day.
Gary Neville wants Arsenal to beat Newcastle
Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast, the former Manchester United defender explained why he wants Arsenal to beat Newcastle on Sunday.
“I hope they go and win that game on Sunday [vs Newcastle] because I think that’s really important, and really difficult to go there by the way,” he said.
“I think it’s really important for them to go and make Manchester City go to Goodison Park and think that they have to win and that they can’t take it easy.
“If they lose at Newcastle and City are still four points clear, they can actually afford a mistake and that would let City off the hook and I think we want to see go as far as it can.
“Arsenal have really pushed City hard this season, and you don’t want it to fall away just at the end. So, I think it’s a really important weekend.”
Newcastle will not roll over on Sunday
While a win for Arsenal would strengthen Neville’s beloved Manchester United’s hopes of finishing third, the Sky Sports pundit is more concerned about the title race continuing.
He wants the Gunners to push Man City for as long as possible, and that means they need to win at St James’ Park.
But Eddie Howe’s side will most certainly prove to be stern opposition for Arsenal. Newcastle have been brilliant at home ever since Howe was appointed – we have only lost to Manchester City and Liverpool at home in the Premier League since he replaced Steve Bruce.
Arsenal know they are in for a tough afternoon. It was at St James’ Park last season where their top four bid crumbled. Newcastle dominated them that night, much to the anger of Arteta.
They are a better side 12 months on, but so are Newcastle. It is set up to be a brilliant game of football, and one that Neville hopes Arsenal come out on top in.
Hopefully his wish does not come true.
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