The Premier League returns this week as Newcastle travel to the capital to take on Arsenal at the Emirates.
Goals from Ayoze Perez and Matt Ritchie secured the Toon a memorable 2-1 victory at St James’ Park a little over a year ago , however, they haven’t enjoyed a great overall recent record against the Gunners, losing 11 of the previous 12 league meetings.
It’s bound to be a tough task for Rafael Benitez’s men, but where are the key threats and what areas can Newcastle look to expose?
Arsenal threat
Despite some well-documented defensive issues over the course of the season, Arsenal remain a real attacking threat. Only the Premier League’s top two sides can better Arsenal’s tally of 63 league goals scored this season.
Although the Gunners are under a new regime with Unai Emery, their passing philosophy going forward remains. Only four other Premier League sides can better their average ball possession of 57.5% this season.
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Additionally, 82.54% of their Premier League goals this season have been scored inside the 18-yard box, demonstrating their ability to break down the opposition and work their way into the box before applying the finish.
The key to their flourishing attack - and, indeed, Newcastle’s biggest threat - comes in the form of attacking duo Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazatte. The pair have directly scored 46.03% of Arsenal’s league goals this season and will be sure to test Benítez’s improving side defensively.
Despite their threat, Newcastle can boast the seventh best defence in the league and may still be able to exploit some fragilities in Arsenal's set up.
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Defensive frailties
Although boasting a solid attack, Emery has still yet to solidify his defence. His side have kept just three clean sheets in their previous 14 league matches.
Arsenal have specifically struggled down the right side of their defence. Their best right sided defender is undoubtedly Hector Bellerin, but the Spaniard suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury to his left knee against Chelsea in January to rule him out for up to nine months.
Summer signing Stephan Lichtsteiner was introduced at right-back but was seemingly targeted by Arsenal’s opponents on numerous occasions; Ainsley Maitland-Niles recent return from injury did hand the home side a boost, but their defence remains an inconsistent force.
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This was demonstrated against Rennes in the Europa League just three weeks ago.
In the below clip, despite being a man down, Arsenal have plenty of bodies behind the ball and should be capable of dealing with any threat on their goal. Rennes take a hopeful shot that ricochets off Aubameyang towards the far corner of the pitch.
Arsenal players all switch off to the danger and allow the Rennes winger to capitalise and run onto the ball unopposed.
By the time Arsenal switch onto the danger, they are out of position. In a panic they drop into the 18-yard-box but they are disorganised and unprepared.
As the cross comes in, Monreal deflects the ball into his own net.
Later in the same game, Arsenal commit men forward chasing an equaliser and leave themselves exposed defensively for the counter-attack - this an area Newcastle should be able to capitalise on given the Magpies’ propensity to hurt teams on the break.
As the ball is worked out to the left of the Rennes attack, Arsenal’s defence should be quick to close the cross.
Instead, the attacker is awarded too much space and is allowed to cross a great ball to the back post, where again the Arsenal defence leave a large space to be exposed by the Rennes striker to make it 3-1.
Not just brittle defensively, Arsenal can be guilty of overplaying at the back.
Implementing a high press at the Emirates, Bournemouth were able to force the home side into a mistake as they looked to play out from defence.
Bernd Leno plays the ball out to Matteo Guendouzi, who is met by Bournemouth’s aggressive press.
He gets caught on the ball and dispossessed, allowing Bournemouth possession of the ball in a dangerous position. From here the Cherries are able to pull a goal back.
Notably, one of the biggest aspects to Newcastle’s game in recent weeks has been their prowess in pressing the opposition and hitting them on the counter-attack. When implemented, their press is fast and aggressive with the intention of blocking the opposition's passing lanes and limiting their time on the ball.
If executed correctly, the tactic can force the opposition to take a poor touch or give the ball away cheaply - as was the case for Arsenal in their matchup against Bournemouth. With attacking players on the front foot, as soon as possession is regained, attackers are ready to burst forward and look to expose any spaces in the opposition's unprepared defence.
Impressively this season, Newcastle have averaged 2.71 counter-attacks per game with 29.9% of those attacks leading to a shot on goal.
Benitez’s men may be forced to relinquish the bulk of possession at the Emirates, as most teams do.
However, with pacey forwards like Perez, Christian Atsu and Miguel Almiron all primed to pounce, expect the Toon to be capable of testing Arsenal defence at various points throughout the match.
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