Newcastle United third place against second place. Arsenal,
Nick Mandola, Arsenal's mindset with City. Now, top of
the league and having that game in hand,
is this the game that really if they were to drop points at
Saint James's Park, which is very easily done. Then you have
a kind of wave, goodbye to their title hopes and their
slim right now. No one is going to my chance, but
you know, all it needs is
one man. Said he slipped.
Up up and they're right back in this, aren't they? So
I was very impressed with the way that arson Arsenal reacted
against Chelsea after that disappointing defeated Man City
and it showed a lot of character.
Yeah and I think we're seeing now.
I don't want to see it. Anyone's ever do for a slip-up
because I don't think we're seeing men's men City slip off
with a one nothing win. But it just shows you how challenging
it can be to score goals,
even when you're performing really well.
So, I think I've had it the projected Point space
as
As picking up a draw somewhere down the stretch. I just kind
of had that in the math and
in Arsenal's case could they went out, absolutely that
nothing else going on. So,
you know, there are scenarios here and I know this is, I'm
the Newcastle guy, right? I'm the guy who always
wants to build into something but just like
just like a couple weeks ago
on the last big match, they faced with Tottenham
and I hope I'm just as wrong as I was then,
I think this is dialed up pretty well for Arsenal to
To get a win that makes everybody remember how
impressive they are and how they've handled themselves for
most of the Season.
Andy, do you agree with that? I mean, we're looking at new call
for the flying at the moment. Trying to secure a top four
spot as soon as possible. Just get it done. Was it eight wins
in their last nine games? I mean
this is you know, this is similar to light and the last
season. When asked, I went up to Newcastle and lost and that
read Dash their top four hopes. Let's see how they progressed
and how they've learned right this young to
ya for And there's been a lot of learning opportunities this
season for Arsenal opportunities, to to learn
the lessons. And then to show what they have learned. And I think
was a, you, Joe said
they bounce back. Well,
against Chelsea,
a young team like that, a team. That's not been in the title
Chase like this before and then they have four games in a row
where they just effectively, don't turn up the rest of
the season can get away very, very quickly. And so they did
they did well to at least a rest that slide and give themselves
an opportunity over the last four games. That's something
they Couldn't do down the stretch last season when they
were trying to close out top for as well. I'm looking here
at the first meeting between these two teams because if
I couldn't remember because it was such a long time ago,
back at the beginning of January, if you can believe
that, but they play them dead. Even
expected goals. Now, possession was very lopsided was all
Arsenal but it was at the Emirates and so, obviously
Newcastle going to go in with a little bit more of a defensive
game plan
and look to try and keep a clean sheet and that's exactly
what they did. Was a scoreless draw their in North London and
so Newcastle have
Belief that they can play with them because they have played
with them this season already. They have played them almost
dead. Even so
I kind of like Newcastle and this one, it feels like
the momentum,
not just at the club, but I think of the the first team in
the players on the field they're just they have gotten
better as the season has gone on. And how many teams can you
look up and down the table and say
Well they're worse now than when they started the season or
they just haven't improved. Newcastle are one of the few
that I think have steadily as the season has gone on, have
gotten better and better. They struggled to create chances and
score goals early in the
season, their third or fourth. Now, over the whole season in
goals, scored
they are I believe forth in expected goals difference as
what like they are. Just, they are so solidly
built and they are. So they are where they are based on Merit
because of what they've been over the course of the season
and they're better now than they were back in August and
September for sure,
that's very true. And I think, when we think about new
consoled Around The League Cup Final that the strength But
then they recovered really well after that, got that out of
the system, and yeah, they've
almost playing their best football the season over
the last few weeks when they've been scoring fours and sixes
and threes against teams, so they can pretty much Blitzer
team and end the game within a 20, 30 minute period
by soaking Arsenal's.
That's a little. They don't get that too.
Wow, by farting, I think recently. So yeah, yeah. So
I think also can do that as well though, right. They could, we
seen that so often fly. Line up the traps
this season. So that's what makes this game so interesting.
And why I can think is going to be a bit of a thriller. We're
going to see a lot of goals. It's in James's
this weekend. Nick Carter probably deserves a lot of
credit as well, for making the changes. He did against
Chelsea,
some would say it was
about time and you should have brought into your genie on
frossard. Maybe the three of us here on the show was saying
that for the last few weeks, but it worked, Right? Add
the desired impact. So, do you think
he sticks with that? Does he bring back in the likes of
Martinelli party, and just game of Abreva. I mean is it
too harsh to say that? I said I got it wrong
for maybe the Southampton and then the man city games
to keep those players in
that perform. So well all season but clearly
just weren't quite at their best.
It does feel a little wrong to say that. I mean, you know,
I've been talking about Georgie, no coming in, at least
at halftime of a number of games. So
that is an opinion to have. And I think it was a strong opinion
that I will classify as belief. However, /.
You, look at the three guys were talking about and they're,
they're guys who are generally new to the setup. And what
arteta has bred into his team is his belief in a the system,
but also, the people who helped him get there.
And so while it's not a way you want to quote unquote, throw
away a title.
I think it's something that gets forgiven in the room. It's
not something. Where players are are looking around saying,
oh my God, I can't believe he played that guy. No, I,
they can believe it, they saw, they've seen those performances
before And he's kind of let those players at least at this
form. And in terms of Thomas party,
let him fail out, right. Let him, let him show that somebody
else needs to do the job better. And I think the biggest
difference that
you mentioned Newcastle before, right? And then finding a rich
vein of form. Well, they had finishers and an Arsenal has
Gaby je sus and odegard and Sokka who are all high up on
the goal list. So
it's really finding who complements them the best
and
Martin. Ellie's benefited from that Force art. Has benefited
from that. I guess the only question is have they rotated
enough?
Because really let's face it there now. So, not there at
a point now where they can play the same 11 every week, but
that won't be the case again, very, very soon.
Yeah, the Champions League next season, right? I'ma
give you yours while coming in at sent about real. Paul would
need to be taken out the firing line a little bit. So that was
interesting to see some of those secondary players have
been waiting for a chance, and they took it against, you know,
it was against Chelsea or in shambles at the Moment. But
it will be interesting to see if
art is going to stick with those guys who came in and
and took their chances.
He's interesting question for you. Andy should
Newcastle just go for against Arsenal because there's
a section of the fan base who want to see the likes of Wilson
and the Alexander exact start together Wilson jumped off
the bench against thanks last time scored a couple could have had
a hat trick
was flying. But anyhow been given
rotate in the lineup and they've had a lot of midweek
weekend games and been working. But in first after game
sometimes it hasn't and they haven't been scared to change
it. So it's
it's difficult right now because so many of Arsenal's
attacking players are an incredible form.
It's tough to actually select a starting lineup and to get
the balance right, isn't it?
Yeah, a game is 90 minutes though. I think we need to
remember that, you know, if 45 is dead even if there's not
a lot going on your setting, something
up for the second half and it feels like New Castle,
very smart.
Eddie how is Eddie has done, and obviously a fantastic job
this season. The way he has managed game by game and taking
it day by day, rather than looking at the bigger picture
of what we have to get into the top four, we
have this money, I have to do this, or I'm going to be out of
a job and just taking those games and and managing it in
very detailed ways, not micromanaging, but just being
very meticulous, it feels like a lot of their games, do follow
the same, kind
of plot line and the pot line usually ends with Castle
getting three points. And so
if they're struggling a little bit in first halves and they're
grinding teams down there, making teams work the way that
they are. I think that's a big reason for the success that
they're having in the second half and the squad lines up
very well. Colin Wilson is obviously a good goal scorer
in the Premier League but he's just a goal scorer.
And so you bring on a player like that in the second half
after he's a cock has really put in the work much more of
a complete type player up there forward and it just seems to
work. And so I wouldn't I wouldn't change anything if I'm
Eddie how
The formula is so good
right now. Aside from that that you know, no-show defeat
against Aston Villa a couple weeks ago, they're not lost in
almost three months and so this is just there is good as
anybody
in the Premier League right now
and that is not something that I thought at any point this
season, that we would be saying about Newcastle. Definitely
felt like it was a year or two away and a lot more transfers,
a lot more money spent
to get to that point.
Yeah, not very impressive. The jewel, buddy, how it's done
with a largely, a group of players already there.
Obviously they've added a few key. Additions
Bruno, obviously, spend bahtman,
obviously East Sac has been excellent in recent weeks, but
and Nick Pope, only give a shout out to him and trippy as
well, real solid foundation. But I'm going for my scorpion
first game.
I'm going for a 4-3 win to Newcastle or
I expect chaos this weekend. Nick, what do you think?
Shout out to the late. Great Shakti Otay.
I'm going to go one, two, one.
One, the one. All right, that's fair enough and he will buy
you. Yeah, I thought I was gonna have the chaos prediction
at 22, but I'll take a 4-3 that that be great with me.
That would be great with all of us, I think. So, head of
the pro soccer talk on NBC sports.com, for the halowatcher
information preview, team news, live analysis, and reaction
from a massive game
for both Newcastle and Arsenal their seasons. Can you Castle
go one step closer to sealing their
return to the Champions League? After what's it 20 years now?
And Arsenal, can they stay?
In the title race for at least, one more week and to keep
the pressure on man city.