(Football news) Arsenal make the long journey to St James’ Park to face in-form Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon. Both teams enjoyed 3-1 wins in their previous fixtures, as the Magpies came from behind to beat Southampton, while Mikel Arteta’s destroyed Chelsea in the first half to claim all three points. Callum Wilson set a new record for the most Premier League goals scored by a Newcastle player in a single month as he beat the great Alan Shearer. With eight wins from their last nine Premier League fixtures, Eddie Howe’s side will assure at least a top-seven finish with all three points on Sunday.

Newcastle have the chance to make their Champions League fantasy become a reality with a win as they hold a six-point lead over sixth-placed Liverpool with a game in hand. The Magpies have scored at least twice in all of their eight wins but they have one clean sheet to boast in their last 15 matches in all competitions. Howe’s men are on the back of four straight wins at St James’ Park, and their only defeat came in January 2022 as they lost to Liverpool.

Arsenal after three draws, got a 4-1 trouncing at the hands of Manchester City which saw them lose the lead at the top of the table but Mikel Arteta’s men ignored the outside noise and got back to normal business after they trounced the Blues as Martin Odegaard’s brace and Gabriel Jesus’s finish them off. Arteta did not rule out the possibility of losing the title as he reckons his players’ are motivated as they lie only one point behind new leaders Man City

Victory for Arsenal would guarantee a top-two finish as both teams have scored and conceded in each of their last eight matches. Arsenal have found the back of the net in 16 successive matches ever since a 1-0 loss to Everton in early February. Arteta’s side are the best-performing team on the road this season, despite failing to win any of their last three matches recently. The last time they met was when Newcastle strolled to a 2-0 win over the Gunners last May before Howe’s team got a 0-0 draw at the Emirates in January.

Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Willock, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Murphy, Isak, Almiron

Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Ramsdale; White, Kiwior, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Xhaka, Partey; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Jesus

Also read: Manchester United face West Ham in a must win game to keep their CL hopes alive