Newcastle United v Arsenal: Can the Gunners get the job done?
The mission for Arsene Wenger this afternoon is clear, win and you play in the Champions League again. Anything else and rivals Tottenham - who play Sunderland at home - can pip them to a place in Europe.
The Gunners have been in this position time and time again. Wenger has never failed to qualify for Europe's elite competition and I don't think he is about to start now. However, Newcastle United are not going to roll over and let the Gunners leave victorious. They have had a poor season by their standards and Alan Pardew -who has always had his problems with Wenger down the years - would love to end the campaign on a high.
It is being reported this morning that Newcastle chairman and Spurs fan Mike Ashley will share £1m between the club's non-playing staff if the Mags can defeat Arsenal this afternoon. Talk about an incentive for the players. After a season that almost got them relegated, the chance to give the backroom personnel a financial boost could spur them on.
The Gunners have only lost one of their past 11 meetings with Newcastle although they have had to make do with a point in their last two visits to St James' Park. However, the home side haven't scored in their past two home game - and it has been six years since they failed to do so three games in a row.
Arsenal start as favourites but anything can happen on the final day.
Newcastle United v Arsenal; Kick Off 4pm May 19 2013
Prediction Panel
|
Arsenal |
Josh Ben Moshe |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Aston Villa |
Frank Pattison |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Chelsea |
Apoorva Ankur |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Everton |
Chris Goodwin |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
Fulham |
Neil Springate |
0 |
V |
1 |
|
Liverpool |
Dave Disciascio |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
Man City |
Callum Rothwell |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Man United |
Peter Johnstone |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Newcastle |
Greg Hall |
3 |
V |
2 |
|
Norwich |
Sue Read |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
QPR |
John Jaycock |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Reading |
Jon Keen |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Southampton |
Andy Saunders |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Stoke City |
Peter Holland |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Sunderland |
Tony Ratton |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
Swansea |
Jim Barry |
3 |
V |
3 |
|
Spurs |
Adam Crawford |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
West Brom |
Andy Wakeman |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
West Ham |
Matt Beeby |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Wigan |
Jimmy Shine |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OUR EXPERTS |
|
|
|
|
|
Writer |
Colin Illingworth |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
Writer |
Steve Coulter |
0 |
V |
2 |
|
Writer |
Hugh Larkin |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
Writer |
Mitch Waddon |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Writer |
Chris Pettitt |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Writer |
Sarshar Hosseinnia |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Blackburn fan |
Terry Kennedy |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Bolton fan |
David Blackburn |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Boro fan |
Sue Gardener |
3 |
V |
2 |
|
Pompey fan |
Dan Taylor |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Pompey fan |
Peter Rendle |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
West Ham fan |
Nigel Telfer |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Wolves fan |
Chris Cox |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Editor |
Antony Melvin |
0 |
V |
1 |
Panel Verdict
Away win.
Home: 6; Draw: 4; Away: 17. TBA 7.
* Do we have it right or do you know better? We’d love to hear from you.
Follow me on Twitter at @sqf_illingworth
