“This is a humungous football match” - Paul Merson predicts Arsenal vs Newcastle

Arsenal host Newcastle United on Saturday in the 5:30pm kick-off live on Sky Sports.

It's hard to imagine Newcastle doing well in this game given the recent run of results, but we do have a strange knack of turning up for these games, so who knows how it will go?

Newcastle are missing some big players in Anthony Gordon, Tino Livramento and Joelinton, but Bruno Guimaraes is expected to be back and that could make a huge difference.

Arsenal have a couple of injury concerns themselves, but it's their form that's more of a worry for Mikel Arteta as they've started to wobble at a crucial time of the season.

Paul Merson was feeling rather verbose this week

Paul Merson, as a former Arsenal man, wrestled with his conscience when making his prediction for Sportskeeda, but ultimately sprung no surprises when it came down to it. But man, it took him some time to get there.

This is a humungous football match. Newcastle have lost to Barcelona, Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth, four losses on the trot. You'd think Arsenal should win this, but Newcastle often do well in this fixture!

Arsenal have four big fixtures coming up over the next two weeks. After this game, they face Atletico Madrid away from home in the Champions League semi-final and host Fulham next weekend before the return leg against Diego Simeone's team.

That is a tricky run. And let's be honest, Arsenal have been losing a bit of control in recent weeks. They have started to wobble at the wrong time. That Bournemouth defeat hurt them the most. If they at least got a draw in that game, they could have been a point ahead of City now.

Like I said before, City winning by just the odd goal against Burnley puts the ball back in Arsenal's court. The reason why I say Arsenal have an advantage is because they play twice before City's next game away at Everton.

So they could be six points ahead before Guardiola's men take the trip to Merseyside, which will be a tough game for City. If Arsenal win their next two games, the will put all the pressure back on their rivals.

I haven't seen enough from City to suggest they will not let in goals during games. Even against Burnley, they conceded big chances. Arsenal should just win the next two games at all cost and if they do it, I can sense them back to being in control in the title race.

If Arsenal don't win this game, it's all over in the title race. They are literally in last chance saloon now. City are above Arsenal only because they've scored more goals. So there is still a possibility of Arsenal winning every game and still losing the title due to City scoring more than them!

Imagine losing a league title simply because you scored fewer goals? That would hurt. Well, I won the league with Arsenal in 1989 because we scored more goals than Liverpool, and I can tell you it's only a good feeling if you win!

This has always been an entertaining fixture in the last few seasons. Even though I'm backing Arsenal to win, I don't think the result is a foregone conclusion here.

Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle United

Howay the lads!

It really could go either way, but only if Newcastle show up, which they haven't done since they faced Barcelona at St James' Park.

An unlikely win in the Capital on Saturday would go a long way towards restoring some faith that has long since left the region.

Don't do it for us. Do it to make Mikel Arteta cry.