In-form Newcastle host Arsenal on Sunday afternoon in the Premier League as they look to take one step closer to securing Champions League football next season.
The Magpies are six points clear of chasing Liverpool in fifth, but all eyes will be on their opponents Arsenal as they look to maintain their diminishing title hopes in their toughest game remaining.
Arsenal are one point behind Manchester City going into the gameweek with the Citizens due to play before them, meaning they could be four points adrift going into the match and in need of a big performance.
The game will be part of Gameweek 369 on Sorare Football, and 101 Great Goals has broken down the key statistical takeaways ahead of the game.
📰 Table Of Contents
Newcastle Sorare L5 stat pack
Newcastle’s top performers over their last five matches
Three Newcastle Sorare gems to watch
Callum Wilson
After being displaced as Newcastle’s leading centre-forward by Alexander Isak, Wilson has bounced back superbly with five goals in his last three games, and eight in his last seven. Four of those goals have come from the bench, and while he is pushing for a place in the starting XI, his importance to the squad is not in doubt and he is guaranteed minutes.
Jacob Murphy
Murphy is one of the under-appreciated members of the Newcastle squad, having stepped into the role held by Miguel Almiron so successfully in the early part of the season. Murphy is a reliable presence rather than a spectacular one, and his average score (L15 of 42) is brought lower due to a number of substitute appearances earlier in the season.
He has earned more minutes of late though and has an L5 of 51, with scores of 84 and 61 in two of his last three matches during which time he has scored three goals. If you’re looking for budget buys, then Murphy is a solid selection.
Joelinton
Joelinton has been one of the cornerstones of Eddie Howe’s Newcastle, and his consistency makes him a key pick from Newcastle’s Sorare players. An L15 of 53 and L5 of 59 showcases that consistency, but there have been signs in recent weeks that as Newcastle form has gone from strength to strength, his performances have improved too.
With a 90 and a 76 in two of his last three games – he scored two goals in that time – he has shown his ability to contribute both in an attacking and defensive sense, but he does have a poor disciplinary record.
Newcastle most recent line-up, Sorare scores and team news
There are concerns over the fitness of Sean Longstaff and Allan Saint-Maximin, who have been missing with foot and hamstring injuries respectively and are pushing for inclusion after missing out the win over Southampton.
Jamaal Lascelles is out for the rest of the season while Ryan Fraser isn’t being considered for selection, leaving Howe likely to name an unchanged side from the XI that has been riding high in recent weeks. The most likely change could see Anthony Gordon moved out of the side with Callum Wilson coming in, and Alexander Isak drifting out to the left.
Arsenal Sorare L5 stat pack
Arsenal’s best performers over their last five matches
Three Arsenal Sorare gems to watch
Leandro Trossard
After a brilliant start to his Arsenal career, Trossard has had to take something of a back seat since the return of Gabriel Jesus, but he is still a big influence for the Gunners when he does play. He returned to the starting XI in the comfortable win over Chelsea to score a 50, and having score a 62 against City there are signs that he is starting to regain that influence. The difficulty is getting into the side and a succession of substitute appearances means his L5 is as low as 39, but the L15 of 51 shows that he can be a big player for the Gunners when used.
Given the workload of Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, Trossard is sure to get more minutes before the end of the season and he could be a good differential to back.
Gabriel
Arsenal’s patchy defence since the injury to William Saliba has hurt Gabriel’s performances and scores, with his L15 of 54 dropping to 47 for his L5, but there were encouraging signs against Chelsea. He still only scored a 42 after a late concession to back up a poor 17 against Manchester City, but a string of strong scores before that mark out the Brazilian as Arsenal’s most reliable defender.
He will be in for a tough afternoon against Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak, but on the back of some renewed confidence the Gunners are expected to fire.
Gabriel Martinelli
Martinelli was rested for the midweek win over Chelsea, such has been his importance to the squad over recent weeks. He is arguably Arsenal’s form player with eight goals in his last 14 to give him a very impressive L5 of 61, which has been brought down by a substitute’s appearance on Tuesday and the defeat to Man City. Before that, five successive scores over 65 made him a must-have and a critical part of the attacking machine at the Emirates. He will surely return to the XI against Newcastle.
Arsenal most recent line-up, Sorare scores and team news
The absence of William Saliba has been one of the key reasons for Arsenal’s recent dip in form, and with Gabriel suffering a back problem against Chelsea there could be real concern at the back for the Gunners – though Gabriel is expected to still come through in time to play.
Jakub Kiwior came into the side against Chelsea and is likely to keep his place ahead of Rob Holding, while Takehiro Tomiyasu and Mohamed Elneny remain out for the remainder of the campaign
Gabriel Martinelli was rotated on Tuesday and is likely to come back in for Leandro Trossard, while Thomas Partey is also likely to return.
