Dan Burn will face up against Bukayo Saka on Sunday. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
2. The wide areas
With Kieran Trippier and Dan Burn, Newcastle have two very different options on either side of the pitch. Trippier is a tricky, overlapping full-back who gets involved in everything, and Burn is a big, solid defender whose primary job is to defend and drop into a back three when Trippier goes forward.
At the Emirates, Newcastle had a lot of joy nullifying Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka, but it came at the expense of any form of attacking play. Burn and Trippier defended valiantly but had protection from Miguel Almiron, Willock and Joelinton, which prevented them from causing problems at the other end.
If Newcastle are to play their normal game, they will press high as a unit, which will create space for the Arsenal wingers, and they are the players who have caused the most damage this season. Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard have notched a combined 53 Premier League goals and assists.
Continued on the next slide…
pic.twitter.com/TxkaZzt9vT
<p>— 💟🇸🇾 (@gizambajumah) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/05/3-key-battles-newcastle-vs-arsenal/2/"https://twitter.com/gizambajumah/status/1643008229205590018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>April 3, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
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<h2>1. The midfield</h2>
<p>Last year, Newcastle overran Arsenal in midfield, but in January at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal pinned Newcastle into their defensive third, in a game that saw them completely change how they play football.</p>
<p>That night, Zinchenko shone for Arsenal having <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/05/3-key-battles-newcastle-vs-arsenal/2/"https://www.sofascore.com/arsenal-newcastle-united/Ardc">108 touches</a>, and completing 82 of 89 passes, with his vertical play cutting between the Newcastle lines, and causing problems against a tightly packed team that played a very low block.</p>
<p>This time around, Newcastle come into the game with eight wins in nine games, scoring 26 goals during that run, and their midfield running power has been key to their success, with Joe Willock, Bruno Guimarães and Joelinton excelling with their combination of speed, power and directness.</p>
<p>With that in mind, Newcastle will not play like they did in January, and Arsenal’s midfield need to be prepared for a physical, hardworking battle, where establishing control could be difficult.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/05/3-key-battles-newcastle-vs-arsenal/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> The wide areas </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_134202" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-134202" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/05/3-key-battles-newcastle-vs-arsenal/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1627,w_2560/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1454072343-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="2560" height="1627" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1454072343-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1454072343-768x488.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1454072343-1536x976.jpeg 1536w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1454072343-2048x1302.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Dan Burn will face up against Bukayo Saka on Sunday. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<h2><strong>2. The wide areas</strong></h2>
<p>With Kieran Trippier and Dan Burn, Newcastle have two very different options on either side of the pitch. Trippier is a tricky, overlapping full-back who gets involved in everything, and Burn is a big, solid defender whose primary job is to defend and drop into a back three when Trippier goes forward.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">🚨| Newcastle boss Eddie Howe says Allan Saint-Maximin returned to training yesterday following an injury lay-off ahead of Arsenal’s visit this weekend.</p>
<p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/05/3-key-battles-newcastle-vs-arsenal/2/"https://t.co/qUx0UUceO6">pic.twitter.com/qUx0UUceO6
<p>— Connor Humm (@TikiTakaConnor) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/05/3-key-battles-newcastle-vs-arsenal/2/"https://twitter.com/TikiTakaConnor/status/1654418689134039040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>May 5, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>At the Emirates, Newcastle had a lot of joy nullifying Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka, but it came at the expense of any form of attacking play. Burn and Trippier defended valiantly but had protection from Miguel Almiron, Willock and Joelinton, which prevented them from causing problems at the other end.</p>
<p>If Newcastle are to play their normal game, they will press high as a unit, which will create space for the Arsenal wingers, and they are the players who have caused the most damage this season. Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard have notched a combined 53 Premier League goals and assists.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/05/3-key-battles-newcastle-vs-arsenal/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Isak and Wilson vs Kiwior </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_134201" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-134201" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/05/3-key-battles-newcastle-vs-arsenal/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1201,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1486538835.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1201" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1486538835.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1486538835-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1486538835-1536x1153.jpeg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Alexander Isak heads into the game in tremendous form. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<h2><strong>3. </strong><strong>Isak and Wilson vs Kiwior</strong></h2>
<p>Newcastle’s defence has won the plaudits this season; however, Callum Wilson’s 15 Premier League goals have been overlooked by many, and despite an injury-hit debut season, Alexander Isak has bagged an impressive ten in 17 games.</p>
<p>Both strikers are very different, with Wilson being more of a traditional nine, whereas Isak drifts wide, and is a graceful dribbler who can beat players with ease, while also processing incredible ball-striking skills.</p>
<p>With <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/05/3-key-battles-newcastle-vs-arsenal/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/03/3-things-learnt-jakub-kiwior-chelsea/">Jakub Kiwior</a> only having one Premier League start under his belt, you’d expect whoever starts to target him, which could be an extremely interesting battle.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Kiwior with pace breaking up a counter pass with a no-look pass. <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/05/3-key-battles-newcastle-vs-arsenal/2/"https://t.co/yu5vqaFQhE">pic.twitter.com/yu5vqaFQhE
<p>— GravityGooner✨ (@Gravitygunner14) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/05/3-key-battles-newcastle-vs-arsenal/2/"https://twitter.com/Gravitygunner14/status/1654234880174182404?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>May 4, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Against Chelsea, Kiwior showed his bravery and was confident on the ball, confident in headed duels and showed his recovery ability on numerous occasions with his incredible pace, which could be vital against two very quick forwards.</p>
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<p>With Gabriel fit, Arsenal have been handed a boost going into the game, and he will be there to guide Kiwior and enable him to focus on his game.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
