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Match Previews

Predicted Newcastle Line Up vs Arsenal

10 years ago
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Match Preview Newcastle v Arsenal 
Sunday 29 December 1.30pm Live On SKY Sports

What a match to end the calendar year on but what will be the Newcastle line up vs Arsenal as Newcastle aim to add this significant scalp to Spurs, Chelsea and Manchester United.

While Newcastle have next to no injury worries apart from Ryan Taylor’s long standing absence and rumours of Jonas carrying a knock, the visitors are missing Aaron Ramsey.

The Welsh midfielder has been inspired this season and currently stands as Arsenal’s top scorer with thirteen goals. An injury though at West Ham means Ramsey misses our match and that can only be good news for Alan Pardew’s preparations.

Not that Arsene Wenger is short on options to replace him but doubts do appear to ave surfaced as to what exactly is Arsenal’s best eleven, with seemingly many of their fans believing it is time to rest/drop Giroud despite him being their second top goalscorer with ten.

As for Newcastle, great to see Remy back amongst the goals and now the challenge is for Pardew to carry the momentum of that second half display against nine man Stoke through to this afternoon.

What cannot be ignored is the feeble first forty minutes of that Stoke match when the Newcastle manager’s tactics went to pieces.

Today though surely sees easy decisions for Alan Pardew as Cheick Tiote marches back into the team and provides the perfect partner to help Yohan Cabaye show his best. The French midfielder ended up chasing lost causes for most of that Stoke first half but with Tiote back in tandem I’m sure we’ll see Cabaye pulling the strings.

It won’t be one way traffic by any stretch of the imagination but surely the Newcastle manager will retain the extra imagination supplied by Ben Arfa, to complement the graft and hard running of Sissoko and Gouffran.

Others may see an the way forward as an extra midfielder in the shape of Anita, much as against Manchester United, but I think backing Hatem today will produce major dividends for Pardew and his team. The French winger has produced moments of magic and goals in the past against Arsenal and I’m confident he can do the same today with confidence surging through his veins again.

Other than that surely the team picks itself?

United will have to be very much on their guard against the swift counter attacks that the Gunners are renowned for and this will be especially so when Debuchy and Santon are bombing on.

A lot of responsibility will rest on Tiote to be on his game but even more so, Newcastle must make sure they retain the ball well. if United can win the battle of possession then I take it as a given that we won;t be beaten today.

A settled team winning matches goes a long way towards a successful formula and if we can carry the luck from Stoke through then we should be sitting pretty tonight.

Betting – NUFC To Win 29/10 – Ben Arfa Man Of Match 16/1 – NUFC Win 2-1 13/1

To view all Newcastle v Arsenal betting click HERE (Prices can fluctuate up and down)

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