Arsenal must put their Champions League heartbreak at FC Porto behind them this weekend when their Premier League title race continues against Newcastle United.
The Gunners suffered a stoppage-time defeat in Portugal on Wednesday after substandard performance at the Estadio do Dragao. Mikel Arteta's men failed to register a single shot on target and suffered a first-leg loss courtesy of Galeno's 94th minute winner.
Arsenal welcome Porto to the Emirates Stadium next month with the hope of overturning their last-16 deficit. However, before then, three Premier League games are on the horizon — starting Saturday against Newcastle.
With Liverpool in Carabao Cup final action this weekend, the Gunners can cut the gap at the top to only two points with all three points. Newcastle will be no easy task, despite sitting eighth in the Premier League table.
The Magpies have enjoyed more success away from home in recent times, winning all four of their trips in 2024. Fortunately for Arsenal, Newcastle have not won at the Emirates Stadium since November 2010 and have lost 11 of their last 12 meetings.
Despite the disappointing evening in Portugal, Arteta comes into the weekend with no fresh injury concerns. The Spaniard made just one sub against Porto — Jorginho for Leandro Trossard — meaning the likes of Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Ben White, Martin Odegaard and William Saliba all played the entirety of the contest.
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Fabio Vieira, who hasn't played since November, was named in the matchday squad for the first time since having surgery on a groin issue.
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