Newcastle United play host to Arsenal on the opening weekend of the Premier League season.
Steve Bruce will take charge of the Magpies for the first time in a competitive fixture, having replaced Rafa Benitez as manager last month, and will be desperate to make a good impression on the home supporters.
Arsenal are targeting a credible challenge for Champions League qualification this term. Unai Emery’s men, therefore, will be determined to start the season in style at St James' Park.
Latest odds
Arsenal are 888Sport’s 10/13 (1.77) favourites to pick up all three points. The home side are chalked up as a 7/2 (4.50) shot to come out on top whilst the draw is available at 14/5 (3.80) ahead of Sunday’s showdown.
Team news
Joelinton, who has joined Newcastle for a club-record fee, is expected to lead the line for the Magpies. Last season’s top scorers, Salomon Rondon and Ayoze Perez, have both left St James’ Park over the summer.
Arsenal’s club-record signing, Nicolas Pepe, is also poised to make his competitive debut for the north Londoners. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette are both expected to start in a top-heavy line-up for Emery’s men this weekend
Preview
Arsenal struggled on their travels in the Premier League last season, picking up full points from just four of their final 15 away matches in this competition last season. That is a record that the visitors will be determined to improve upon this term.
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This is a fixture that has been kind to Arsenal in recent years. The north Londoners have won 12 of the last 13 meetings between these teams, including a 2-1 win at St James’ Park last season.
888Sport offer just 7/10 (1.70) that both teams are on target here, whilst the same firm go 3/4 (1.75) that there are at least three goals scored.
Prediction
The Gunners kept just one clean sheet in their 19 away league matches in the Premier League last season and Newcastle will feel, then, that they can make their mark against the Gunners on their own patch.
Nevertheless, Emery’s men will remain confident that they can kick off the campaign with a win. 888Sport offer a generous 5/2 (3.50) quote for the visitors to win a match in which both teams are on target.
The selection would have landed in six of the seven wins that Arsenal picked up on their travels last term and could, therefore, present punters with a viable path to profit again ahead of Sunday’s showdown at St James’ Park.
Arsenal to win and both teams to score at 5/2 (3.50) for a 1pt stake with 888Sport
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