SETTABLOID

Alexander Isak scoring against Arsenal at St James’ Park means Mikel Arteta’s have failed to keep a clean sheet in six consecutive Premier League matches.

After not conceding in three of the opening four games this season, every opponent since has breached their defence. That streak is already double the longest stretch in the league without one across all last season.

To find a longer Arsenal run without a clean sheet, you must return to the final few months of the 2022/23 campaign. That coincided with William Saliba’s absence from the team with the back injury that curtailed his season.

The difference between these two droughts is that all the league games in22/23 came simultaneously, but the Gunners have kept clean sheets between their league fixtures in cup competitions this time.

Their last league clean sheet came in the North London Derby, which Arsenal won 1-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Thanks to a David Raya penalty save, they kept another in their next fixture against Atalanta in the Champions League.

However, over the course of September, they conceded five goals in three games with Bolton Wanderers, Leicester City and Manchester City. Arsenal then tightened up in their next match, winning 2-0 against Paris Saint-Germain.

Arsenal lost crucial ground in the title race with an awful display in a 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United at St. James’ Park. The game got off to an awful start for the Gunners who fell behind inside the opening 15 minutes when Alexander Isak nodded in Anthony Gordon’s superb cross.

The Gunners then never really going in the first half but could have been level when Mikel Merino’s close-range was blocked on the line by Lewis Hall.

Arteta attempted to change things after the break by bringing on Ethan Nwaneri, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus. It was to no avail though as, apart from a late Declan Rice chance, Arsenal failed to create any notable scoring opportunities.

A tough test awaits Arsenal later today, with the Gunners making the trip north to take on Newcastle United at St. James’ Park.

After drawing 2-2 with Liverpool in their last Premier League outing, Arsenal returned to winning ways midweek with a 3-0 win over Preston in the Carabao Cup. The victory set up a clash with Crystal Palace in the Round of 16, but for now, attention turns back to the Premier League, with a difficult trip away to Newcastle awaiting Mikel Arteta’s side.

Arsenal ran riot in the last meeting between the two sides as they beat the Magpies 4-1 at the Emirates Stadium, but the last clash at St. James’ Park saw Newcastle beat the Gunners 1-0, with VAR drama stealing the show. William Saliba is available in the league once again after returning from suspension against Preston, while Gabriel is also expected to be fit.

Arsenal have been handed a boost ahead of their Premier League game with Newcastle United on Saturday as Brazilian centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes has travelled with the rest of the squad, according to Con Harrison.

The scout and insider, who has been featured on the BBC and The Overlap and is followed by the likes of Ben Jacobs, Jacob Steinberg and Darren Lewis on X (formerly Twitter), revealed on the social media platform this evening that the defender is with others on their way to Tyneside.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta revealed earlier today that Gabriel will be available for selection if he can complete the training session today, and he has done that from the look of things.

The 26-year-old was withdrawn in the 52nd minute in the 2-2 draw against Liverpool on Sunday after succumbing to a challenge from Reds forward Darwin Nunez.

The Gunners centre-back initially went down following the knock, and while he managed to continue the game after returning to the pitch, he went down again and was taken off for treatment, with Poland international defender Jakub Kiwior replacing him.

While he did not feature against Preston North End in the round of 16 of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, Gabriel has not sustained any serious injury and is expected to feature alongside William Saliba against Newcastle.

William Saliba often gets the limelight for being Arsenal’s top dog in a defensive sense, but Gabriel is just as important to the Gunners’ system.

Speaking on Charles Watts’ YouTube channel, Martin Keown has been discussing Arsenal’s two defenders, and he says that he actually told Saliba last season that Gabriel is a very underrated player.

Keown shared what he told Saliba about his centre-back partner.

The Arsenal legend says he actually told Saliba that Gabriel doesn’t get the credit he deserves.

Interestingly, Keown also said that the perception around Gabriel has now changed after his recent scoring spree from set-pieces.

Arsenal and Newcastle are both dealing with a mini-injury crisis before their Premier League clash at St. James’ Park on Saturday lunchtime. The Gunners have been hampered by key absences in recent weeks, with Eddie Howe’s side now also dealt two major worries having only just welcomed back Anthony Gordon from a groin injury.

Both teams advanced to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup earlier this week, with the Magpies beating Chelsea and Arsenal knocking out Preston. From those games, three new injury concerns emerged with Mikel Arteta’s latest issue surrounding Ben White.

The versatile defender was left out of the squad that made the trip to Deepdale – due to load management. However, Arteta has since revealed he’s a doubt to make the weekend’s clash. “With Ben we don’t know yet,” Arteta admitted in a press conference. “He could not train so let’s see what happens.”

As for Gabriel Magalhaes, another defender who missed the midweek cup tie, Arteta appears far more hopeful that he can feature after being subbed off against Liverpool on Sunday afternoon. “Yes it’s good news on Gabriel,” he revealed on Friday. “We have a training session today. If he’s able to do that he’ll be in the squad.”

Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney are both expected to remain absent, as the Arsenal manager also ruled out another duo. “Riccy [Riccardo Calafiori] and Martin [Odegaard] are out definitely,” he openly said on Friday morning before the long trip to Tyneside.

As for their opponents, the biggest concerns surround star striker Alexander Isak after he limped off just beyond the hour mark in the 2-0 win over Chelsea with Gordon also still seemingly not fully match fit. “They both feel OK,” Howe said when asked about the attacking duo.

Arsenal return to Premier League action this weekend with a trip to the St. James’ Park where they will take on Newcastle United. Having picked up just one point out of a possible six in their last couple of league meetings, Mikel Arteta’s side cannot afford another slip-up against the Magpies in Saturday’s matchday 10 fixture.

Having seen off Preston midweek with a heavily rotated side, the manager should have most of his key players available. Here is a look at Arsenal’s possible line-up against Eddie Howe’s men.

Goalkeeper – David Raya will return to goalkeeping duties having rested on Wednesday as 18-year-old shot stopper Tommy Setford was handed a rare start in the EFL Cup.

Defenders – William Saliba will be available for selection having missed last weekend’s draw against Liverpool. The Frenchman will return next to a familiar face in defence – Gabriel, whose knee problem does not seem to be very severe. Arteta will hope to have his Brazilian available tomorrow.

Jurrien Timber will return to the left side of the backline having played as the right back against Preston. Ben White is doubtful for the clash with a knee injury so Thomas Partey could feature as Arsenal’s right back.

Mikel Arteta has provided the latest on Martin Odegaard’s return ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Newcastle United at St. James’ Park.

The Norwegian has been out since September after sustaining ankle ligament damage while away on international duty. He has been back in partial training for a few week now though, and is edging closer to a return to joining the rest of the squad.

The 25-year-old had been pushing hard to make it in time for Newcastle but Arteta confirmed that he is definitely out for Saturday’s match. There was more optimism though on Odegaard’s chances of making it in time for Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Inter Milan.

Arsenal got back to winning ways in midweek with their win over Preston North End. However, the attention turns quickly to the weekend as Mikel Arteta’s side now has the intention of avenging their controversial defeat on Tyneside last season.

Newcastle were the first side to beat Arsenal in the last campaign and did so thanks to a goal which Mikel Arteta took umbrage with post-match. The ball looked to go out of play in the build-up, but no camera angle could determine whether that was the case and then Joelinton appeared to foul Gabriel Magalhaes in the box.

Arsenal were punished last weekend by Anthony Taylor in the build-up to a late Gabriel Jesus goal that would have won the game against Liverpool. Jakub Kiwior was punished for what looked an even tamer collision with Dominik Szoboszlai.

In the game, Gabriel Magalhaes suffered a knee problem and it remains to be seen whether Arteta will be able to call on the Brazilian for the trip.

After Tommy Setford’s debut in midweek, David Raya will of course come back into the starting XI to face Newcastle, looking to keep a clean sheet in the league for the first time since September 15 in the 1-0 win at Tottenham. Nine goals have been conceded since then in five games as the Gunners’ defensive record has taken a hit.

In the back line, William Saliba shifts across to Gabriel’s left centre-half role to partner Ben White in the middle of defence. Thomas Partey was very impressive at right-back against Liverpool and therefore also comes into the team.

Mikel Arteta is set to face the press at the Sobha Realty Centre ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Newcastle United.

The Gunners go into the game having secured safe passage into the quarter finals of the Carabao Cup with a 3-0 win over Preston North End in which Ethan Nwaneri was the star.

There could be more good news on the horizon with Martin Odegaard edging closer to a return to full fitness after two months out with an ankle problem.

There are some questions over the fitness of Gabriel and Ben White though ahead of a tough trip up to the north east.

It is almost a year on exactly from Arsenal’s last trip to St. James’ Park which was marred by controversial refereeing decisions.