Mikel Arteta Dismisses Mourinho Comparison As Arsenal Prepares For Newcastle Clash

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Mikel Arteta is determined to keep Arsenal in the Premier League title race as they prepare to face Newcastle United on Saturday. He has chosen to dismiss comparisons with Jose Mourinho. Jamie Carragher, a former Liverpool and England defender, compared Arteta to Mourinho, suggesting Arsenal's style isn't impressive. This comment followed Arsenal's 2-2 draw with Liverpool and their 3-0 victory over Preston North End in the EFL Cup.

Arteta has chosen not to engage with Carragher's remarks, focusing instead on delivering results for Arsenal's board and fans. "I don't talk about myself. I leave him to give his opinion," Arteta said regarding Carragher's comments. He emphasised that no one is immune from being sacked, stating, "We are here to win football matches—never forget that."

Reflecting on his five-year tenure at Arsenal, Arteta noted its rarity and stressed the importance of winning games to maintain his position. "Very unusual. Unfortunately, it is very unusual," he added, highlighting the need for consistent victories.

Newcastle United have struggled recently, failing to win in their last five league matches and dropping to 12th place in the table. Manager Eddie Howe has warned that no player is guaranteed a spot in the team following their 2-0 win against Chelsea in the EFL Cup.

Howe specifically mentioned Bruno Guimaraes' extensive playing time and travel commitments. "No one is undroppable," he said, stressing the need for careful management of players like Bruno who have played many minutes.

Key Players to Watch

For Newcastle United, Alexander Isak stands out with an impressive record of scoring every 133 minutes in the Premier League. Only Andrew Cole has a better average for Newcastle. Isak has netted 11 goals in his last 11 league appearances at St James' Park.

Bukayo Saka is a key player for Arsenal this season, having created more chances than any other Premier League player with 27 opportunities. He has scored or assisted in ten of his last twelve league games and achieved double figures for goal involvements this season.

Match Prediction: Arsenal Favoured

Despite not winning their last two league games, Arsenal are favourites against Newcastle due to Howe's team's struggles. Newcastle haven't won in their last five league matches—their longest streak since August and September 2022.

Arsenal lost their previous away game at Bournemouth but haven't suffered consecutive away defeats since May 2022. Their last loss at Newcastle was marked by Anthony Gordon's controversial winner.

The probability of an Arsenal victory stands at nearly half according to Opta statistics, making them strong contenders despite recent setbacks.