Paul Merson has cautioned Newcastle United about the potential of being “overwhelmed” by Arsenal in their upcoming match at the Emirates this weekend. Arsenal’s recent form in the Premier League has been impressive, securing victories in five consecutive games and netting a total of 21 goals during this period.
Newcastle has faced defensive challenges throughout this season, conceding a total of 41 goals in 25 matches, with eight goals conceded in their last three games alone. Dan Burn, particularly susceptible to quick wingers, is expected to face Bukayo Saka from Arsenal this weekend. Despite Rio Ferdinand’s opinion that Saka isn’t “world-class,” the Arsenal standout has an impressive record of 12 goals and seven assists in 24 Premier League games this season.
Paul Merson, when discussing the upcoming match, suggested that facing Saka could be problematic for Newcastle, stating that it “could get messy,” and Saka might “have a field day.” Merson doesn’t believe Arsenal will be affected by their recent European setback and noted Newcastle’s inconsistency despite being unbeaten in their last five matches.
“They are finding the net consistently, but their defensive vulnerabilities are a cause for concern. Going into the Arsenal match this weekend, they cannot afford to defend the way they have been, or they’ll face significant challenges.
Newcastle’s defensive struggles are evident, and despite their entertaining style of play, adopting an open approach against Arsenal might lead to unfavorable outcomes. Paul Merson anticipates a challenging scenario, suggesting that Bukayo Saka could exploit their defensive weaknesses, and he predicts a comfortable victory for Arsenal.
Arsenal comes into this weekend’s game on the back of a 1-0 defeat to Porto in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday night. Mikel Arteta expressed his disappointment with the team’s performance post-match, stating, ‘Obviously, I am very disappointed with the way we gave the game away at the end.'”
“We didn’t handle that situation effectively. In the Champions League, any lapses can result in punishment. If you can’t secure a victory, the key is not to lose.
Despite dominating the game, our performance lacked purpose, especially in the first half. We needed more aggression, breaking lines, playing forward, and creating a greater threat against the opposing backline.
This is a learning experience for us, and now it’s evident that it’s halftime. To progress to the quarter-finals, we must defeat our opponent, and that will be our purpose and plan moving forward.”
When questioned about whether his team displayed naivety in losing in such a manner, Arteta responded, “It’s only the last ball, so if in 94 minutes they haven’t shown any naivety except for that one moment, I think it’s a bit harsh to pass judgment. However, it’s undeniable that it had a significant impact on the final result. Despite some positive aspects in their performance here for the first time, giving the ball away three times in that area is something that cannot be overlooked.”