Arsenal Quest to Dominate Newcastle

After a disappointing barren draw against Liverpool at the Emirates on Monday, Arsene Wenger and his Arsenal squad will be gunning for the full points when they visit Newcastle at St. James’ Park in the English Premier League fixture billed to kick off at 12.45 this afternoon.The Gunners have goalkeeper Peter Cech to thank for escaping another defeat at the Emirates Stadium on Monday, as the former Chelsea’s shot-stopper came up with several breath-taking saves against Liverpool in a game that Arsenal struggled for most of the first half against the Christian Benteke-led attack of the Reds.With four points after three matches, Arsenal needs victory to close the gap between it and Manchester City that has taken early lead with nine points from its 100 per cent result so far.Arsenal fans hold the bragging rights going into today’s clash with the Gunners winning in all six of the last meetings in­volving both sides in the EPL. And while Arsenal has won six out of its last seven away fixtures, Newcastle has failed to win 13 out of 14 of its last EPL fixtures.Arsenal must, however, be wary of Newcastle’s counter attacks and defending set pieces, two aspects where the Magpies draw their strengths. But the inability to keep possession, weakness in aerial duels and poor reaction to attacks down the wings could spell doom for the Steve McClaren’s side considering that the Gun­ners are reputed for their excellent ball possession and control of the game in the opponent’s half.The Arsene Wenger’s side is also very strong in aerial duels and has a penchant for attacking with ease down the left wing and through the middle.The players that would determine the rhythm of the game today are France in­ternational forward, Papiss Cissé, Moussa Sissoko, Aleksandar Mitrović, Massadio Haïdara, Daryl Janmaat, Gabriel Obertan, Fabricio Coloccini and Cheick Tioté while Arsenal will be boosted by the return of the duo of Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker in the defence to give goal­keeper Petr Cech cover, while Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla, Alexis Sanchez, Aaron Ramsey, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Oliver Giroud are expected to lead the attack for the Gunners.Arsenal is ninth on the EPL log with four points after three matches while Newcastle is placed a distant 17th with just two points from three games.Later this afternoon, leader, Manchester City would aim at a fourth straight win when it visits EPL newcomer, Watford, at the Etihad Stadium.The Citizens (nickname for Manchester City) are the only side yet to test defeat after only Round 3 fixtures in the new EPL season with the maximum nine points on offer all in their kitty to place them above other teams on the log.Watford is still looking for its first win in the Premier League and do not look convincing enough to post any upset at the Etihad this afternoon against a star-studded City side that is playing at its full potential.With four-time African Footballer of the Year, Yaya Toure’s current form and his partnership with Samir Nasri and Sergio Kun Aguero in City’s attack, Watford would struggle for most of the game against the Manuel Pellegrini’s side that looks certain to extend its early lead in the EPL.