Mikel Arteta is expecting a tough test this weekend as Arsenal travel to face a ‘really good’ Newcastle side at St James’ Park.
Arsenal face third-placed Newcastle on Sunday as the Gunners look to keep alive their hopes of winning the Premier League title this season.
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Newcastle are in fine form and are closing in on Champions League qualification after a run of three consecutive league wins, with Eddie Howe having had a transformative impact on the Magpies since taking charge on Tyneside.
Howe’s side have lost just twice at home since January 2022 and Arteta is well aware of the threat Newcastle will pose after a goalless draw between the sides earlier this season.
“That was a game we deserved to win but we didn’t in the end. They are a really good side,” Arteta told his pre-match press conference.
”They are well coached. They have good players and the right environment around the club right now, so they are in a good place.
“We will try to play the game we want and they want to a very different game, that’s for sure. That’s the battle when we played them at the Emirates.
”As I said, I felt we deserved to win that game. There are obviously things that will be different, playing back there [at St James’ Park] and we are going to have to play better if we want to win it.”
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