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Arsenal can maintain their strong position at the top of the Premier League standings when they welcome third-placed Newcastle United to the Emirates Stadium this evening.

The Gunners hold a seven-point cushion heading into kickoff and could separate themselves from the chasing pack even more with a victory but it’ll be no easy task as the northeast giants are unbeaten in 12 and have currently conceded the fewest goals in the top-flight.

Mikel Arteta’s side made it five wins from five by defeating Brighton and Hove Albion 4-2 on New Year’s Eve, whilst Eddie Howe’s men drew 0-0 to Leeds United.

It’ll be interesting to see whether the Spanish head coach will tinker his lineup or run an unchanged side, so here’s what we are predicting before tonight’s tricky encounter…

There could be just two changes to the side that beat the Seagulls on the south coast only three days ago.

In goal, England international Aaron Ramsdale is set to continue as the no.1, though the back four in front of him could look very different.

There is a chance that Kieran Tierney returns to the starting XI as Oleksandr Zinchenko has only just shaken off an injury. It would be only the third time that the Ukraine star has started two or more successive matches in the Premier League since his arrival from Manchester City in the summer.

The £110k-per-week Scot was once dubbed a “natural leader” and tipped to become the Gunners’ next captain one day by Arteta, so he should be trusted in a fixture of this magnitude.

Meanwhile, there were signs of defensive fraility with Brighton scoring twice on Saturday. William Saliba – who cost £27m in 2019 – was at fault for one of the goals, having also conceded a penalty against West Ham United on Boxing Day.

The Frenchman barely featured at the World Cup for France and has looked out of sorts since returning, leading to journalist Charles Watts describing him as “definitely rusty,” so he could make way for Takehiro Tomiyasu, which would see Ben White return to the middle to partner Gabriel.

In midfield, Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka and Martin Odegaard are likely to remain, with support from Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli out wide.

Whilst Gabriel Jesus remains absent with a long-term knee issue, academy graduate Eddie Nketiah, 24, is set to lead the line once again in his absence and he’ll be looking to continue his goalscoring form after finding the net at the Amex Stadium.

AND in other news, Arsenal must now swoop for “magic” £86m star who is “miles ahead”…

Alasdair Gold has slammed Son Heung-min for his poor display in Tottenham Hotspur’s latest defeat.

The Lowdown: Son’s shocking performance

Son played the full 90 minutes as Tottenham were easily swept aside by an Aston Villa side languishing in the bottom half of the table and looking over their shoulders.

Spurs now find themselves outside of the top four and winless since club football resumed following the World Cup break, with Son undoubtedly guilty of underperforming on Sunday, and not for the first time this season.

The South Korea international has been experiencing a lull in confidence this term, which has seen him score just three league goals all season – and they all came in one game against Leicester City.

The Latest: Alasdair Gold insists Son is still ‘low on confidence’

Gold was left far from impressed by what Son put on show during Spurs’ shock 2-0 home defeat as he handed him a 4/10 player rating while writing for Football.london.

“After being caught in possession early on, something that happened a few times in the first half, he threw his protective mask off the pitch to play the rest of the game. Still looks so low on confidence and inspiration. Had a big chance in the first half to set up Kane for a clear effort on goal but overhit the pass.”

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The Verdict: Son needs to refind top form

If Tottenham are going to achieve their minimum goal of finishing inside the top four this season, Son is going to have to start finding his goalscoring boots once again.

Son’s poor run of form will surely be shocking himself as well as many people inside Tottenham, as last season he finished as the Premier League’s joint-top scorer, so to see how having scored in just a single game all season is unbelievable.

It’s not as if Son is playing a different role and not getting into positions as he’s had the second-most shots in the whole team. However, less than 50% of them are troubling the ‘keeper (FBref), which shows where the problem currently is. And, he doesn’t appear to be as secure on the ball as he managed to lose it a whopping 16 times against the Villans, as well as having an expected goal rating of 0.06 (Sofascore).

An update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their attempts to add to their ranks at Ibrox during the January transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Belgian journalist Pieter-Jan Calcoen has revealed that the Light Blues are keen on a deal to sign central defender William Pacho as Michael Beale looks to improve his squad before the end of the month.

However, they will face competition from Ligue 1 side AS Monaco and it remains to be seen how much money Royal Antwerp are set to demand for their enforcer.

Calcoen Tweeted: “#RangersFC and #ASMonaco have already scouted William Pacho from #RAFC several times and would like to recruit the defender. Antwerp will want the main prize, which makes sense.”

Filip Helander upgrade

The Gers can finally replace Sweden international Filip Helander by landing an upgrade on him in the form of Antwerp’s Pacho this month.

Beale must move on from the former Serie A central defender before the end of the window as he has become a liability with his consistent injury issues.

Helander is projected to miss 52 competitive matches with his current foot injury, which he suffered in April of last year and is set to return in February, and was out for 53 games with two separate injuries between 2019/20 and 2021/22.

This means that he has been absent, due to injury, for at least 105 outings for Rangers and he struggled for form when he was able to get on the pitch last term. He averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.75 across six appearances in the Premiership – making 1.1 tackles and interceptions per match.

Pacho, who is also left-footed like Helander, has averaged a score of 6.99 in the Pro League this season and made 3.7 tackles and interceptions per outing.

The 21-year-old, who was once described as an “interesting” young player by talent scout Jacek Kulig, was also part of Ecuador’s squad at the World Cup but did not get a minute of action in Qatar.

He is a young, up-and-coming defender who has shown plenty of promise with his performances in Belgium this season and he could be an excellent long-term addition to Beale’s squad.

His statistics this term indicate that he has the quality to be a big upgrade on Helander, both in terms of availability and his average performance level, if he can adapt to Scottish football and Ross Wilson must now work his magic to beat Monaco to the defensive titan’s signature.

Liverpool are now monitoring Valencia midfielder Yunus Musah ahead of a potential move, according to reports.

The Lowdown: World Cup standout

The American was one of the standout performers for his nation at the World Cup last year, despite Gregg Berhalter’s side getting knocked out in their last 16 game against the Netherlands.

The 20-year-old’s contract at the Mestalla Stadium isn’t set to expire until 2026 but it sounds like he’s attracting plenty of interest from the Premier League, in particular Anfield.

The Latest: Liverpool eyeing Musah

According to Spanish reports (via Liverpool Echo), the Reds are ‘following’ the progress of Musah and are joined in the race for his signature by their top-flight rivals Chelsea and Arsenal.

Jurgen Klopp is claimed to have personally made the New York native a ‘new request’ to the board in a bid to ‘reinforce’ his options in the middle of the park.

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The Verdict: Perfect for the press

Liverpool have held a long-standing interest in Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham, and should they be able to complete a deal for him at some point later this year, Musah could be perfect short-term alternative to arrive this month.

The La Liga maestro is creative in the final third, having made eight goal contributions at Valencia, and is a versatile player with the ability to operate in three different positions (Transfermarkt).

However, his most important trait is his pressing ability, which is exactly what Klopp needs given the lack of energy in his midfield department currently.

Musah has been praised as an ‘elite engine, vertical, hardworking, strong and quick’ by scout Jacek Kulig, and these are all traits which could reignite the Reds’ famed gegenpressing.

Everton in desperate need of reinforcements in their attacking threat after losing Richarlison to Tottenham Hotspur in the summer and Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s struggles to stay fit, which has led to what looks to be another difficult relegation scrap for the club over the second half of the season.

The Toffees are currently 18th in the Premier League after collecting just 15 points from a possible 54 in their first 18 games, with the third-worst goal tally in the entire division contributing to their plight.

Frank Lampard did have the opportunity to strengthen his forward line last summer by adding Dwight McNeil and Neal Maupay to the squad at Goodison Park, but it has quickly become clear that the attacking duo are not consistent and reliable goal contributors. Therefore, the current transfer window will likely be the manager’s last chance to get it right, with pressure mounting on his position at the club.

One player who has recently been linked with a move to Merseyside is Lorient forward Dango Ouattara, a talented young winger who could be the solution to Everton’s unfolding nightmare.

Across 16 Ligue One appearances this season, the 20-year-old – dubbed a “breakthrough” player by Robin Bairner – has scored five goals, registered four assists and created five big chances, along with averaging 1.2 key passes, 2.9 shots on goal, 1.1 interceptions, 2.1 tackles, 1.3 successful dribbles and a whopping 7.8 duels won per game.

Furthermore, Ouattara ranks in the top 10% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues over the last 12 months for tackles, interceptions, blocks, clearances and aerial duels, proving that he is not only potent in attack but one of the best performers defensively in his position.

In fact, Lampard could land his very own Bukayo Saka for Everton, with the Arsenal ace named as one of the most comparable players to Ouattara over the last 12 months, according to FBref.

The two tenacious forwards have shared many similarities in their output so far this season, including goals (5 v 6), shots on target rate (32.6% v 34.4%), progressive passes completed (35 v 33), goal-creating actions per 90 minutes (0.79 v 0.81) and dribble success rate (33.3% v 33.9%).

With that in mind, signing Ouattara – who has a price tag of £18m  – would be a major coup for Everton, and if a deal can be done over the next few weeks, it could be a huge boost in their chances of surviving relegation over the second half of the season.

CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs has given his verdict on where the future of Liverpool target Moises Caicedo lies.

The Lowdown: Plenty of suitors

According to The Mirror, plenty of Premier League clubs are interested in the Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder.

Jurgen Klopp’s side are thought to be one of those clubs showing a keen interest in the Ecuadorian, with Chelsea also firmly in the running.

Jacobs suggested last week that the asking price for the Seagulls man could end up being north of £75m.

In 18 league appearances this season, Caicedo has a goal and an assist to his name, amassing a total of 1,833 minutes across all competitions.

The Latest: The offer has to be right

Speaking on the TogetherBHA YouTube channel, Jacobs claimed that if the offer is right and the player wants to move, Caicedo won’t be prevented from leaving the Seagulls amid strong links coming from Chelsea at present.

He stated: “Brighton’s stance is it will have to be something incredible, but we have to also make it clear, for balance, that Chelsea are pushing.

“And as I said before, in my interview – but also in conversations with sources, so this isn’t just from Paul Barber – it’s been made clear at the club end that if the right offer is hit and Moises Caicedo says, ‘I want to go now’, the club will understand that.

“And as a consequence, if it is right for – and Barber said this part on record – player and club, then a sale could still happen.”

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The Verdict: Liverpool would have to bid big

We believe that the Reds will have to put forward a big bid to land Caicedo and add a new addition to their midfield, particularly if they wish to strengthen further this month.

In their clash with Chelsea this past weekend, the Liverpool midfield really struggled when attempting to win the ball back – Thiago Alcantara made five tackles, but the rest of the midfield registered one between them in 90 minutes.

Fabinho has previously been labelled as ‘the best’ holding midfielder in the Premier League, but in the past year, Caicedo has proven to have better defensive stats in multiple departments when compared to the Liverpool man.

Per 90 minutes, the Brazilian averages 2.1 tackles per game as well as 1.39 interceptions and 1.53 blocks, whereas the Reds target trumps Fabinho in tackling and interceptions.

Caicedo’s stats show he picks up 2.7 tackles and 1.43 interceptions per 90, with blocks (1.43) being the area where the Liverpool player marginally wins out.

And with Brighton sitting three places above Liverpool and eight points off a Champions League spot, there seems little incentive for Caicedo to make the switch to Anfield at the moment – though whether the league table will determine his future remains to be seen.

Arsenal are now expected to focus their attention on trying to bring in a new right-back and midfielder this month with a deal for Leandro Trossard expected to go through.

What’s the latest?

The Gunners are now close to completing their first piece of business this month with the expected arrival of Trossard from Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Belgian forward has signed for £21 million plus £5 million in add-ons following his public fallout with Roberto De Zerbi on the south coast.

But it does not seem as if Edu Gaspar is settling for just Trossard this month with Fabrizio Romano believing his attention has already been turned to other areas. Arsenal are also closing in on the signing of Jakub Kiwior.

Speaking on his YouTube channel,  the Italian journalist has claimed the north London club will now look at potentially signing a new right-back and midfielder:

(4:30) “Arsenal, keep an eye on the right-back situation. We know that Fulham are interested in Cedric Soares, so let’s see if Arsenal will decide to do something in that position. They appreciate Ivan Fresneda of Real Valladolid but also many other clubs including Newcastle including Juventus, including Wolves so it’s an open race for a talented right-back Fresneda.”

“But Arsenal will keep an eye on the market in the final days let’s see if right-back, midfielder what kind of opportunities they will find on the market.”

Strengthening their title charge

It has been a sensational first half of the season for Mikel Arteta’s side who sit firmly at the top of the Premier League table having only recorded one loss in their 18 games.

And it seems as if they are not content with allowing this window to go by without strengthening their squad for the remainder of the season.

There is a lot on the line this season for Arteta’s men and they will be all too familiar with how the second half of the season can run away from them.

Just last season, the Gunners saw their hopes of a spot in the top four slip from their grasps in the final stages of the campaign as their north London rivals swooped in to take the prize.

However, there is even more on the line this season with the title there to be won by Arsenal following their impressive start.

And in the previous January window, Arteta may look back at it as a missed opportunity given they made no additions to their first-team squad.

With the likes of Cedric Soares heavily linked with an exit, it would be incredibly risky for Arteta to allow a squad player to leave and not replace him.

Especially when the current backup at right-back, Takehiro Tomiyasu, has had his injury issues since arriving at the club which have seen him miss nine games already.

And in midfield, although Thomas Partey continues to impress in the middle of the park, he is also no stranger to an injury and you do have to wonder what the absence of a big player like him could make to this Arsenal side.

There is still a long road ahead of the Gunners in their quest for the title, but adding further squad depth could certainly prove a wise decision down the line.

Newcastle United could look to the remaining days of the transfer window to strengthen their squad to improve their chances of qualifying for the Champions League and now a new update has emerged on a potential transfer target.

What’s the latest?

According to The Evening Standard, Newcastle are interested in a swoop for Chelsea playmaker Hakim Ziyech but the London club are reluctant to do business with them due to their position in the Premier League.

As per the report, the Morocco international could leave Stamford Bridge on loan this month with Newcastle one of the clubs interested in signing the player, however, Chelsea aren’t keen on handing over their player due to the competition for a position inside the top four over the second half of the season, despite the fact Todd Boehly has personal friendships with members of Newcastle’s board.

Better than Gordon

There is no doubt that Ziyech would be a great piece of business for the Magpies in their pursuit of a top-four place come the end of the campaign and it could signal the depth in their attacking threat that is needed in order to continue their domestic dominance.

Newcastle are currently third in the Premier League table after suffering just one defeat over their first 20 outings so far and since beating Southampton at St Mary’s on Tuesday evening are looking like real contenders to reach the final of the Carabao Cup at Wembley Stadium next month.

Indeed, Eddie Howe will be thrilled with the phenomenal form that his side has displayed already this season, however, the final push at the business end of 2022/23 will be the real reflection of how far his team have come since he joined just over a year ago.

Thus, adding some fresh perspectives in important areas of the team could be key to unlocking the added consistency needed to compete for the top four.

As a result, the loan move for Ziyech may well be an ideal solution for Newcastle as the talented attacker could be the creative output Howe is reportedly keen to strengthen in during the remaining days of the transfer window.

It has been heavily speculated that the northeast outfit are close to securing a deal for Everton winger Anthony Gordon this month, however, the £100k-per-week Ziyech would actually be a higher quality and more experienced alternative in the short term.

Over last season, Ziyech outperformed Gordon in a number of attributes including goal contributions (7 v 6), pass completion rate (72.1% v 64.9%), shot-creating actions per 90 minutes (4.57 v 3.03) and progressive passes (59 v 48).

What that suggests is that the Morocco international is a more reliable threat in the final third, one that would surely deliver immediate results as opposed to Gordon who is still very raw.

The Chelsea ace also has the experience of competing in and winning a Champions League, as well as going to numerous domestic cup finals including the Carabao Cup and FA Cup final last season which could bring another winning mentality into the team, whereas Gordon is likely to be lacking confidence due to the situation at Goodison Park.

With that being said, the signing of Ziyech would make more sense for Newcastle in their pursuit of European football, Premier League dominance and success in domestic competitions as his experience could give the side a great boost to meet their goals this season.

Former Newcastle United player John Anderson has urged Eddie Howe to start Alexander Isak in their Carabao Cup second-leg clash with Southampton.

The Lowdown: An important assist

Isak has only featured eight times in all competitions for Newcastle due to injury and has delivered four goal contributions in all competitions.

The assist he got against fellow Premier League side Southampton in the League Cup was arguably his most important to date, as the Swede dribbled down the line and played the ball across where it was tapped in by Joelinton.

It means that the Magpies go into the second leg of the semi-final with a 1-0 advantage.

The Latest: Start Isak

Anderson has urged Howe to start Isak in the return fixture against the Saints as he believes he’ll offer something different when speaking to the Total Sport Newcastle United Podcast.

He stated (12:35), “I’ve said since he played the first half in the in the FA Cup tie at Sheffield Wednesday and I thought he was he was bright. This movement was good, he looks sharp. Should have scored, but you can put that down to a little bit of rustiness.

“Even the games he’s come on and he’s looked bright, He’s looked lively his movements been good. So he obviously wants to play, he wants to play from the start.

“There’s no doubt about that, as I say did great for the goal the other night. Will Eddie Howe be tempted? He’s very loyal Eddie Howe, but you just think that maybe it needs a little bit of a freshen up a little bit of something different.”

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The Verdict: Isak’s earnt a start

We believe that Isak has earned the right to start up front for Newcastle and Howe should play him from minute one in their cup clash with the Saints.

Magpies legend and hero Alan Shearer raved about the Swede when he first joined the club, labelling him as ‘superb’ in a piece for The Athletic.

He’s certainly made an impact since arriving on Tyneside and hasn’t been slowed down much by his injury.

Dropping Callum Wilson won’t be a simple decision for Howe, as

he’s a player that the Toon boss rates very highly and has relied on him heavily when in charge of Newcastle and Bournemouth.

However, Wilson’s tally has dried up recently and we believe is due a rest. There’s a £63 million forward weighting in the wings and with his recent form and a hefty price tag to his reputation he’s worthy of a start in the second leg of the semi-final.

Presenter Conor McGilligan has been left confused by the apparent hate Nottingham Forest have for Leeds United ahead of their clash this weekend.

What’s the word?

On Sunday afternoon, the two teams will meet in the Premier League for the first time since 1999.

Of course, they have met plenty of times in the Championship since then. The sides last met in that division back in February 2020 when goals from Sammy Ameobi and Tyler Walker gave Forest a 2-0 win at home, and it seems as though that game hasn’t been forgotten quickly.

Indeed, while speaking about this weekend’s clash on the One Leeds Fan Channel, McGilligan explained that it wasn’t until after that last meeting that he realised how much Leeds were hated by their opposition.

He explained: “I didn’t know how bad it was until that game. They are obsessed with Leeds United. They dislike us intently, intently.

“I’ve got absolutely no problem with Nottingham Forest, I don’t think many Leeds fans have. So it is a little bit odd. But listen, it is what it is.”

Big rivalry

Of course, Leeds are not necessarily the most popular club in England, and perhaps that dates back to their physical play and unruly gamesmanship under Don Revie, which predated Forest’s most successful period. Maybe this is where the antipathy stems from.

Whatever it is, Whites manager Jesse Marsch will hope to channel the possible poor tempers in favour of his team, who could really do with a win on the road this weekend.

If Leeds fail to get a positive result at the City Ground, they could fall into the relegation zone depending on how other results pan out this weekend. However, a win would see them go level with Steve Cooper and co on 21 points with a game in hand.

There’s certainly plenty to play for, and with this apparent rivalry, you can expect the atmosphere to be rocking.