Newcastle boosted by Europa League quarter-final draw
Newcastle had already seen their game against Arsenal moved to the Sunday.
The game at St James Park live on TV with 1.30pm kick-off on Sunday 15 April.
Arsenal made it three wins in a week on Thursday night when beating AC Milan 3-1, so Newcastle fans also had an interest in who the Gunners would draw in the quarter-finals.
Both the Europa League and Champions League draws were made earlier today (all games below) and as well as Liverpool getting Man City, Arsenal picked out CSKA Moscow.
Arsene Wenger is obviously prioritising the Europa League just as Jose Mourinho did last season.
Arsenal are 12 points off fourth and have no chance of Champions League qualification by that route, so instead they have to win the Europa League.
Arsenal play the first leg of their quarter-final on Thursday 5 April but then have to travel to Moscow to play on the night of Thursday 12 April, kick-off only two and a half days before they face Newcastle at St James Park.
Arsene Wenger said he wanted to avoid Atletico Madrid because of their ability but it was equally clear that the Gunners desperately didn’t want to get CSKA Moscow, by far the worst draw in terms of travel and then a lack of preparation time for the following Premier League match.
This has to be seen as a massive boost for Newcastle, as the combination of travelling, lack of preparation time and surely a weakened team for the less important Premier League match, must give United a great chance of beating Arsenal.
Europa League Quarter-Final draw:
RB Leipzig v Marseille
Arsenal v CSKA Moscow
Atletico Madrid v Sporting Lisbon
Lazio v Red Bull Salzburg
Champions League Quarter-Final draw
Barcelona v Roma
Sevilla v Bayern Munich
Juventus v Real Madrid
Liverpool v Man City
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