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Arsenal simply have to beat Newcastle or top four hopes are over

By on February 12, 2020

gabriel martinelli 2019

Arsenal simply have to beat Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon or we can forget about finishing in the top four this season.

After beating Manchester United 2-0 at the Emirates on New Year’s Day, like many Arsenal fans, I thought we’d kick on and go on a run that would leave us right in the mix for fourth place.

However, frustrating draws against Crystal Palace, Sheffield United, Chelsea and most recently Burnley has left Arsenal languishing way down in 10th place in the Premier League table and 10 points off the top four.

Many feel our chances of finishing fourth have already gone but there are still 13 games left to play and none of our rivals are consistent enough to be assured of qualifying for the Champions League, so we shouldn’t give up hope just yet.

However, in order to close the 10-point gap, we must beat Newcastle at home on Sunday as another slip-up would be catastrophic. Chelsea take on Man Utd at Stamford Bridge on Monday night so Arsenal need to cut the gap on the Blues to seven points with a win this weekend.

With games against Everton, West Ham, Brighton, Southampton and Norwich to follow, Arsenal have a terrific opportunity to put a winning run together but we just need to get that first W on the board to build some momentum.

Outsiders

For those who bet on sports online at 22Bet sportsbook, you’ll see that Arsenal are currently NINTH favourites to finish in the top four at odds of 40/1. Even the likes of Sheffield United and Wolves are priced at 14/1 and 12/1 so the bookmakers don’t give us a chance to snatch fourth this season.

However, I firmly believe we have the talent to make a late push during the closing months of the season but it’s vital we end our winless run by beating Newcastle at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon. Once the players get that winning feeling back, hopefully Arsenal can kick-on and salvage something from this season.

Even forgetting fourth for a second, it’s imperative we get back to winning ways against the Magpies so the players are in confident mood heading into the first leg of our Europa League last-32 clash with Olympiacos next Thursday.

Arsenal travel to Greece for a tricky first leg and the last thing we need is the squad going into that crucial match off the back of another disappointing result in the Premier League.

Newcastle will arrive in north London this weekend level on 31 points with Arsenal having won just one of their last five league games so this really is a huge game that could define our entire season.