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Arsenal, once again sitting second in the Premier League, can quickly return to the summit when they host Newcastle United at the Emirates on Saturday evening.

Manchester City’s nervy 1-0 win at Burnley in midweek moved them back to the top on goals scored, but with City in FA Cup action this weekend, Arsenal would only need a point to reclaim first place. Form, however, is a growing concern for Mikel Arteta’s side, who are in danger of losing three consecutive league games for the first time in four years.

Last weekend’s 2-1 defeat to City extended Arsenal’s poor domestic run to four straight losses — their worst such streak since 2017-18 — reigniting familiar criticism as the season reaches its decisive phase. Performances have not been disastrous, but fatigue is starting to show, and a Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid is also looming next week. Arsenal’s struggles in April under Arteta have been a theme too, with their points-per-game return this month remaining notably low.

Newcastle arrive in trouble of their own. Eddie Howe’s side are not yet mathematically safe with five games to go and have sunk into their bleakest spell of the Saudi era, losing three league games in a row and four straight in all competitions. A 2-1 home defeat to Bournemouth last time out left them 14th, 11 points above the bottom three, and they have lost eight of their last 11 Premier League matches — the worst record in the division since late January.

Even a surprise win in north London would help ease the pressure on Howe ahead of a reported meeting with club chiefs, but history is against the Magpies: they have not won a league game away at Arsenal in 13 attempts. Arsenal, meanwhile, can complete a league double over Newcastle for the first time since 2020-21 after their late win at St James’ Park in September.

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Martin Odegaard captained Arsenal again at the Etihad after shaking off a minor knee issue, but Bukayo Saka missed out with a calf problem and remains a major doubt to face Newcastle. Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber are also doubts, while Mikel Merino is still a few weeks away as he continues his recovery from foot surgery.

Timber is believed to be close to returning, which would ease a selection headache for Mikel Arteta with neither Ben White nor Cristhian Mosquera fully convincing at right-back recently.

Newcastle, meanwhile, have been hit by another right-back injury, with Tino Livramento suffering a groin problem against Bournemouth that will rule him out on Saturday and could end his season. Arsenal target Anthony Gordon is also expected to miss the trip with a groin issue.

Emil Krafth (knee), Fabian Schar (ankle) and suspended Joelinton are definite absentees for Eddie Howe, but Bruno Guimaraes should be back in the starting XI after returning from injury.

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