Newcastle preview + live podcast reflections

Good morning from London, where you’ll be glad to hear my trousers are neatly folded today.

I’ll come to last night in a moment, but today starts with the game later on. Newcastle are in town and it’s a big one that means something in terms of how we finish this season. They’ve been a pain for us three times, and some payback for that is overdue. Hence, I think Mikel Arteta will pick the strongest side available to him.

Mikel Merino is suspended following his red card at Anfield last week, so assuming Leandro Trossard is fit enough, he should start up front, and hopefully Declan Rice is ready to go again in midfield after missing the trip to Liverpool. Beyond that, the only other issue I can envisage is Jurrien Timber who didn’t take part in the midweek training session, but when the option to fill in is Ben White, you’re hardly down to brass tacks.

Even if this season feels over, you can be sure that won’t be the message in the Arsenal dressing room, and especially not the Newcastle one. They can go above us with a win today, and that will be a huge motivation for them, so we are going to have to be switched on fully this afternoon. In the past the manager has opted to deal with their physical power by picking a slightly more technical team and hoping the PGMOL don’t allow their players to elbow our lads in the head and get away with it, but today I suspect he’s going to lean into the need to compete physically (as well as hoping the PGMOL don’t allow their players to elbow our lads in the head and get away with it).

Hopefully Kai Havertz can make the bench and give us another option for the latter stages of the game if we need it, but I hope by the time he comes on – if he comes on – this is a game that’s without any jeopardy and we’re well ahead. That’s not to take anything for granted, it’s just what I’d really like to see, and I hope we can just be a bit ruthless today. We’re overdue a win, it’s the last home game of the season, and it would be nice to go out with a bit of a bang. And regardless of how meaningless some people might view it, I think there’s some importance in finishing second and not being overtaken right at the end.

I’m obviously going to be there today, but we will have all the usual coverage on the live blog and the post-game stuff on Arseblog News too.

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So, we had our live podcast last night at Union Chapel, and as ever it was a fantastic night, and lovely to see so many people there. There’s a kind of affirmation in real life interactions that’s really important, and while we’re all very obviously online (because how else do you get podcasts and blogs and stuff?), it’s just great to be around so many Arsenal fans, both for the show and to chat and meet afterwards.

I think I managed to talk to everyone I possibly could, but if I missed you I apologise, it was pretty busy in the bar upstairs afterwards! With James, Elliot, Clive, Paul and Tim alongside you, it makes everything easier and better so while I’m sure they already know how much I love them and appreciate them, it’s worth putting it down in print too.

We were also very happy to have a special guest for a few minutes, and I’m sure you’ll probably have already seen that Mikel Arteta took some time from his busy day to turn up and say thanks to fans who helped the ArsenalVision fundraiser generate over £360,000 for the Arsenal Foundation this year. It was very last minute, it was very top secret, and I can’t lie, I was pretty nervous to ask him a couple of quick questions but I think it went ok!

[email protected] @arseblog.com

— Tom (@thomas-j-powell.bsky.social) 2025-05-18T07:08:34.144Z

I can’t say for sure, but I don’t think he had any real idea of what he was turning up to. I’m pretty sure live podcasts aren’t really part of his life, but the reception he got was amazing. We all have our issues and our criticisms when it comes to football, but for me it’s been clear from day one that Mikel Arteta really cares deeply about the club and bringing the kind of success we all want. That was 100% reflected in how he was received by a packed house at Union Chapel. A really special moment, and thanks to those behind the scenes who helped make it happen.

The full show is available now for Patreon members, and then we’ll have a version out on YouTube in the next couple of days for everyone. Right, I’m gonna leave it there, hopefully the boys can do the business today and maybe I’ll see some of you around this afternoon. Say hi!

Come on you reds!