BBC Sport pundit Mark Lawrenson has claimed that it’s still ‘same old, same old’ at Arsenal under Unai Emery while predicting their clash with Newcastle United on Monday.
Emery replaced the legendary Arsene Wenger in the summer but has yet to make genuine progress with the Gunners. However, Lawrenson feels his team will have enough to overcome the Magpies 2-0.
“Rafa Benitez has taken his Newcastle side on a great run, with only one defeat in their past six games,” he wrote on the BBC Sport website. “The Magpies are as good as safe now, and probably only need one more win to be sure of staying up, but I don’t think they will get it here.
“While Arsenal have struggled on the road, when they are at home they play with lots of confidence. I can see this almost being a kind of routine victory for them. But, when they are away, and under the cosh more, they can’t seem to cope with that. They don’t seem to be able to pick up points on a regular basis, and their results in Europe have been disappointing too.
“Unai Emery has made plenty of changes after replacing Arsene Wenger as manager but in that regard, it is still ‘same old, same old Arsenal’.”
OPINION
This is going to be a very tough test for Newcastle, but one in which they can certainly come away with something. Arsenal are a quality side, that goes without saying, but as Lawrenson mentions, they still have many of the same deficiencies under Emery as they did when Wenger was in charge. They are still poor away from home and pretty sloppy at the back at times. That’s what Newcastle will look to prey upon because they are suddenly an attractive attacking side. They play nice football now with Miguel Almiron and Ayoze Perez supporting Salomon Rondon, and so it would be no surprise to see them defy Lawrenson and get on the scoresheet at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal should win this game, truth be told, but Newcastle have the capabilities to make it a tough night for the Gunners. They will defend resolutely and attack with verve, and so this one could end up being a lot closer than Lawrenson imagines.
