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Having endured a tough run of games away from home in the tail-end of the season, Arsenal continue that win a game away to Newcastle United. Though the title looks more or less gone by this point, Arsenal need to keep fighting to see what they can pull out of the bag and hope Manchester City slip up somewhere. Is it likely to be at St. James, though, with Newcastle still scrapping for top four?

Newcastle United News

Newcastle do have quite a few injuries, as is common for this time of the year. They are certain to be without Jamaal Lascelles, and there are doubts regarding Allan Saint-Maximin and Sean Longstaff. Outside of that, though, Newcastle have a mostly fit team to pick from – for the first time in a while, they have no real injuries in their striking department.

Arsenal News

Arsenal are short of a few themselves, mainly in defence. Takehiro Tomiyasu is done for the season, while William Saliba is facing a fight to return himself. Gabriel is also likely to miss out, meaning that Arsenal will be missing three of their first-choice back four.

Verdict

This should be a tough one to call, with both teams very much in need of points. Given the freshness of Newcastle’s attack and the injuries Arsenal are dealing with, though, it is hard to see the Gunners keeping Newcastle out. This could create a shoot-out style match, which is something that is more likely to suit Arsenal than Newcastle. Expect a hard-fought match with plenty of quality, but no winners.

Score Prediction: 2-2

Around this time last year, Everton took on Crystal Palace at home and produced a maddening second half to stay up. At that point, then coach Frank Lampard got carried away in the euphoria and you could be forgiven for thinking the Toffees had won the league. Now under the far more methodical Sean Dyche, Everton come to London to play Palace knowing that they need a result even more than they did last year.

Crystal Palace News

Prior to a hat-trick of wins under Roy Hodgson, Crystal Palace looked certain for the drop under Patrick Vieira. Three stabilising wins, though, including a 5-1 trouncing of Leeds away from home, has left Palace in pretty good shape. Their last result, a 2-0 win away at Southampton, more or less guaranteed safety.

They come into this one knowing they need to find form at home, though, with home wins few and far between in 2023.

Everton News

This is the closest the Blues have been to a relegation in the best part of thirty years. They come into this game knowing they need some kind of positive result, but playing against a team with three wins on the belt and a positive feelgood factor around the place seems unlikely. Everton also have a fair few injuries building up, with only their decent record against Palace in recent memory something to hold onto.

Verdict

Everton look primed to be relegated after several years of flirting with such a disaster. Expect them to come out flying here, but if they do not score early their season-long issue of conceding on the counter is almost certain to pop back up. Home win.

Score Prediction: 2-1

Back in the relegation spots, Nottingham Forest know that they need to start picking up wins and soon. The Trent side are in a poor run of form, and the stay of confidence provided to their coach, Steve Cooper, was not exactly a ringing endorsement.

With Manchester United coming to the Midlands having endured their own mediocre run of results, Forest might never find a better time to play the Red Devils.

Nottingham Forest News

Given Forest signed what feels like two squads worth of players since last summer, they somehow have an injury crisis. The report for this game suggests a ridiculous eight players are definitely out, with a further four set to be touch and go.

It would be hard to say who is the most important given how chop and change the team has felt, but the loss of full-backs Renan Lodi and Serge Aurier alongside Willy Boly and Chris Wood means that Forest are depleted in both defensive and attacking areas. Emmanuel Denis is the one on the injury list closest to returning, but it is unlikely he will start.

Manchester United News

United come into this game with a few injuries of their own, with Marcus Rashford and Lisandro Martinez not both injured for the medium-term. Raphael Varane came off in midweek against Sevilla, too, and Alejandro Garnacho is unlikely to make it back in time for this one. Scott McTominay is touch and go, though it is hard to say for sure if he can recover in time for this clash.

Verdict

Both sides have been in pretty average form recently, but United have had the edge over Forest in league and cup play so far this year. Forest have had a decent enough run of form at home, but United should have too much for them in this one – expect a comfortable United win to further put the pressure on Cooper and co.

Score Prediction: 0-2