Manchester United legend Gary Neville has confidently backed Arsenal to get the better of Newcastle and secure second place in the Premier League this weekend.
A Carabao Cup semi-final defeat to the Magpies in early February seemed to kick-start Arsenal’s desperately disappointing end to the season, with Mikel Arteta’s men winning just seven of their next 18 games in all competitions.
In that time, the Gunners have also been eliminated from the Champions League, again at the semi-final stage, while missing out on the title in the English top flight – this time to Liverpool.
It means the FA Cup that Arteta won in his debut season remains the Spaniard’s only major trophy since taking over the reins from Unai Emery back in December 2019.
The Arsenal boss made no secret of his immense disappointment with his side’s lacklustre first-half display at Anfield last time out, with the visitors appearing on course for a fourth straight defeat.
But the north Londoners rallied to rescue a point from the contest and Neville expects them to kick on and edge out third-placed Newcastle on Sunday.
‘I feel quite strongly that Arsenal are going to win. I think they will secure second place,’ the ex-United and England right-back said on the latest episode of It’s Called Soccer.
I think they will have had enough time. That was a big second 45 minutes at Anfield and it will really give them a lift.
Arteta will have given them a few days off at the start of the week and they’ll come back a little bit fresher mentally.
‘The big thing on Sunday is that if Arsenal win, they do get second place confirmed and that’s big.
‘It means they can relax in the last week of the season and almost half go on holiday a little bit. I just think there’s enough on this game and I think Arsenal will win 2-1.’
Jamie Carragher expects Sunday’s heavyweight clash to be a tighter affair and predicts third-placed Newcastle will come away from the Emirates with at least a point.
‘I’m going to go for a 2-2 draw,’ the former Liverpool and England defender said.
‘I think it will be a great game, I think Newcastle will really go for them.
‘Obviously, Arsenal came back at Liverpool and they’ve got a week to prepare which will be a little bit easier.
‘Buh the they [Arsenal] are still missing a few players, they’re still probably a little bit down with being out of the title race and Champions League.
‘But I feel like there’s a real buzz at Newcastle. They’ve got the trophy and for Newcastle to finish second in the Premier League will feel absolutely massive.
