Mikel Arteta braced for ‘intense and electric’ atmosphere at Newcastle

Mikel Arteta said Arsenal are braced for an “intense and electric” atmosphere at St James’ Park as his Premier League title challengers bid to turn the tables on Newcastle.

Arteta has overseen four defeats in his side’s last five matches at St James’ with Arsenal failing to score on their last three trips to face Eddie Howe’s men.

Arsenal are already five points behind Liverpool, and they could head into Sunday’s fixture eight points off the title pace if the champions maintain their perfect start against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Newcastle have taken just one win so far, but speaking on the eve of his side’s pivotal clash, Arteta said: “It’s a really intense match.

“We know the test, and we know that we’re going to have to be much more efficient than we’ve been lately when we played up there to win the game and we’re going to work on that.

“You have to dominate when you play against them, and we have to be ready. It’s one of the best football atmospheres in the country. As a player, as a fan, as a coach, you want to live in this atmosphere, they play every single ball with you, it’s electric.

“The way they have managed to create such an atmosphere, especially at home as well as a very clear identity of playing football, they make it really difficult. There is so much support there and it’s one team, one city, that makes it different as well, and to play it’s such a challenge and opportunity. It’s a great game to play in.”

Alexander Isak scored the winner in Arsenal’s away defeat against Newcastle in the league last season. The Sweden international then netted in his side’s semi-final Carabao Cup victory against Arsenal at the Emirates.

However, Newcastle have struggled for goals following Isak’s departure to Liverpool, registering just three goals in five matches, while failing to score in three of those fixtures. Arsenal can boast the meanest defence in the league having conceded just once from open play this term.

But when asked if Isak’s exit makes Newcastle a weaker proposition, Arteta pointed to the chances created in their Champions League match against Barcelona earlier this month – a match they lost 2-1.

Arteta continued: “He (Isak) wasn’t playing against Barcelona and what it could have been in the first 30 or 40 minutes could be very different to the result.”

Arteta will hand a late fitness test to captain Martin Odegaard – absent for the past three matches with a shoulder injury – but Noni Madueke and Kai Havertz remain sidelined with knee problems. Bukayo Saka, who made his first start in a month in Arsenal’s Carabao Cup victory at Port Vale on Tuesday, is set to retain his place.