It’s been a season of trials for both teams taking the pitch at the Emirates Stadium in London on Saturday. Hosts Arsenal sit in just seventh place and a whopping nineteen points out of first place, certainly well short of the level their fans expect and demand. Visitors Newcastle United are having a much worse season, sitting in 16th place and just one little point above the relegation zone, mired in mediocrity and controversy, as well as a potentially pending sale of the club.
Suffice it to say nothing has really gone to plan for either club this season, but this match could represent an opportunity to start turning things around. A win for Arsenal coupled with advantageous results elsewhere could see them rise into fourth place, while a win for Newcastle would give them some much-needed breathing room and take them closer to the top end of the chaotic bottom half of the table, where 11th through 20th places are separated by just six points.
Of course, to get that win Newcastle would have to overcome some truly awful form. Despite the Toon’s squad being fairly healthy right now, Rafa Benitez hasn’t lead his team to a win since the end of October. Arsenal haven’t gotten a win in the Premier League since the end of November either, but they can start getting their form turned around and add to Newcastle’s misery with an emphatic victory here on Saturday.
Match info, plus how to watch on TV and stream
Match Date/Time: Saturday, 10 a.m. ET, 3 p.m. local
Venue: Emirates Stadium, London, England
TV: CNBC (U.S.)
Online: NBC Sports Live (U.S.)
Make friends: Check out The Short Fuse for more Arsenal coverage, and head over to Coming Home Newcastle for more on Newcastle United.
Listings for more countries can be found at LiveSoccerTV.