OPINION
When Newcastle United visit Arsenal on Monday night there will only be one favourite to come away with the three points – and it will not be Rafael Benitez’s men.
Even if you ignore the gulf in quality between the two squad and if you can forget about where the two sides sit in the Premier League table, you still have the Magpies’ awful record not only in London but against Arsenal specifically, with just one win – which came last season at St James’ Park – since 2010.
That victory for Benitez’s men coincided with the recent introduction of Martin Dubravka to the Newcastle starting XI, the shot stopper then a recent addition from Sparta Prague, and the now 30-year-old showed exactly why he was snapped up by Benitez with a commanding performance.
He has kept up his high standards since and it seems as though the Gunners might well be keeping a close eye on him themselves, with the Chronicle claiming that they have been scouting him ahead a potential move in the future.
If that is the case, then Newcastle’s visit to the Emirates Stadium is the perfect chance for Unai Emery and his transfer team to get a good look at the shot stopper’s abilities between the sticks – making any positive result a double edged sword for the Magpies.
Dubravka is going to play a huge part if Benitez’s men are going to take anything home from north London and an impressive performance between the man between the posts is only going to convince the Arsenal decision makers he would be a worthwhile addition to the squad.
Benitez and Dubravka obviously do not want to throw in the towel just to keep him on Tyneside but there should be worries that his display on Monday could determine whether the Gunners ramp up their interest.
