Newcastle United host Arsenal on Sunday in a battle of the 2 greatest defensive sides within the Premier League to date this season.
The Gunners have conceded simply two targets in 5 league matches, whereas Eddie Howe’s facet have recorded a league-high 4 clear sheets to date.
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BBC Sport examines who’s greatest outfitted to breach their opponent’s defences earlier than the assembly at St James’ Park.
Newcastle’s seek for targets
The Magpies have the bottom anticipated targets tally in opposition to of any facet (Arsenal are in second) within the Premier League this season however whereas Mikel Arteta’s Gunners are additionally scoring freely, Eddie Howe’s males are struggling to seek out the again of the online within the league.
The overriding issue has been the protracted departure of Alexander Isak, who scored 23 targets and offered six assists in final season’s Premier League, which means he was instantly concerned in additional than 40% of Newcastle’s targets within the competitors, scoring 33.85% of them.
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Isak was changed with the signings of ahead Yoane Wissa and Stuttgart striker Nick Woltemade, however Wissa was injured on worldwide responsibility with DR Congo and won’t characteristic for a number of weeks.
Woltemade scored on debut within the 1-0 win over however Anthony Gordon was most popular as a false 9 to start out the Champions League defeat by Barcelona.
The Magpies did put 4 previous League One leaders at St James’ Park on Wednesday, courtesy of two targets from younger Danish striker William Osula to start their Carabao Cup defence.
Woltemade began on the bench in midweek however will certainly return to the beginning XI on Sunday.
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Newcastle’s tally of three targets after 5 video games is their third fewest at this stage of a Premier League season, behind 2005-06 (one) and 2015-16 (two), whereas their ending this season is among the many worst within the division.
Nevertheless, ought to their assault begin to click on within the league at the side of their defensive solidity, they may show a stern check for Arsenal.
Newcastle have struggled to attain targets within the Premier League this season [BBC]
Arsenal’s set-piece risk
The Gunners characterize a well-recognized risk to final season when it comes to their very own resolute defence and an assault constructed round scoring from set-plays.
Arsenal have scored 10 Premier League targets this season, rating them joint second total, whereas their anticipated targets tally of three.5 from set-pieces is the very best within the competitors.
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The north Londoners additionally gained within the EFL Cup in midweek, with Eberechi Eze scoring his first aim for the membership within the victory at League One
Arteta has needed to handle harm points on this marketing campaign – the lack of Noni Madueke through the 1-1 draw at final weekend meant that Arsenal have sustained an harm in each Premier League sport to date – though the very best web spend within the league of almost £250m over the summer time means his squad is effectively outfitted to take care of any absences.
Arteta will nonetheless want as lots of his big-hitters to be accessible as potential to journey to Tyneside given Arsenal’s latest report on this fixture.
Newcastle have gained their previous three residence video games in opposition to his facet with out conceding a aim – they might win 4 in a row at residence to the Gunners for the primary time because the Nineteen Sixties.