Arsenal set to shine in Newcastle by Sam P
The last time Arsene Wenger took his Arsenal squad up north to face Newcastle United the Gunners were in full flow. We beat the Magpies to make it six wins in a row and won the next three games as well, so the situation on Saturday when the players run out for the early Premier League kick off is not really the same, but I still think that we will arrive in Newcastle with real confidence that all the points will be coming back to north London.
For one thing, our French striker Olivier Giroud seems to like playing against them, with four goals from our two games last season. And the previous season he also scored one in each of the matches against them, matches we won both of once again. And in his debut season the Frenchman bagged another two goals against Newcastle, so he will surely be rubbing his hands at the prospect of Saturday´s game. Other Gunners have good memories of them as well, with Walcott having bagged a stunning hat´trick against them in December 2012.
The last time we failed to beat them was the opening day of the 2011-12 season and the last time they beat us was November 2010, so not many of the players in the starting XI will ever have experienced losing to them.
As well as recent history being on our side, I think that the way the game will be played should suit us. The Newcastle fans will want, even demand, their players to have a go. So it should be an open game with a great atmosphere and that should take the pressure off Arsenal and allow us to express ourselves.
The players have to perform, individually and as a unit, and I am not assuming a victory but I do think that it will be the sort of game which is set up for us to throw off the shackles and really show what we can do. What do you think?