Newcastle United v Arsenal: Joe Buck preview

Joe Buck previews Newcastle United's clash with Arsenal at St James' Park in the Premier League.

Transcript

00:00So Newcastle United are back in action here at St James' Park. Today they host Arsenal in the Premier League.

00:06Obviously just three days on from their win over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup.

00:09And they'll be hoping for a very much repeated performance of that.

00:12It was one of their best displays, certainly best 90-minute display of the season.

00:16And the intensity they played with, the identity was back to the best of it anyhow really.

00:21So they'll be hoping they can repeat that against Arsenal.

00:24We all know Arsenal are going to come here full of confidence and full of, you know,

00:28they've got something to prove after last year's game. We all remember that game.

00:31We got a 1-1-0, Anthony Gordon's goal.

00:33All the VAR checks, all the feisty atmosphere.

00:36Joe Junior refusing to shake LaSalle's hand after the game.

00:39A couple of red cards potentially for Havertz, Bruno.

00:41So there's lots of, you know, lots of ill feeling.

00:44Not just in this game, but you sort of think between the dugouts actually.

00:46I think both sets, you know, really want to win, will employ any tactic they do.

00:50So Eddie Howe even said that yesterday.

00:51He said that they would do anything to win as long as it's in the rules of the game.

00:54So it's going to be a feisty game.

00:57Saturday lunchtime kick-off can sometimes be flat,

00:59but you'd imagine seeing James' park after Wednesday will be up for it.

01:01And if he doesn't get off to the solid start like they did the other day,

01:04Anthony Gordon was really the pace setter for that.

01:06His early challenge really helped them, you know, sort of create the atmosphere.

01:11That was led on by Joe Linton, who was an absolute machine on Wednesday.

01:14And yeah, Eddie Howe faces a few difficult decisions, good decisions for him to make.

01:19Unlike last year, where there was a lot of injury issues, forced his hand.

01:21He's got some decisions to make, whether he goes Lloyd Kelly or Dan Byrne centre-back, I think.

01:25Or whether he goes Joe Linton out wide, or he goes back in the midfield to show long-staff play.

01:30Bruno, Tonali, Willock. He's got a multitude of options to pick from.

01:33And yeah, it's going to be a tough game.

01:36There's no doubt about that.

01:37You know, Arsenal are a tough defensive side.

01:40Probably don't play the greatest football.

01:42So Newcastle, I think, might have to sort of overcome that.

01:45And they have to be wary about Arsenal on the set pieces.

01:48They are very good.

01:49But ultimately, Newcastle will be hoping to see if James' Park can give them the lift they need to win this game.

01:53And as I mentioned last year, we saw that game last year.

01:56What this ground can do, what Newcastle can do when they feel up for it.

01:59And hopefully, despite being set at lunchtime, see if James' Park can get up for it.

02:02Because we've got a really good match in store here.