Sky Sports expert’s verdict – Interesting on Newcastle United ahead of Arsenal game

2 weeks ago 13

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The Sky Sports column ‘Jones Knows’ has given some interesting analysis and commentary on what is currently the position at Newcastle United.

The column makes predictions on what will happen at certain Premier League matches and also debates other matters / issues at clubs as well.

However, unlike the usual ex-pro predictions, that are usually simply based on how ‘big’ a club is and whether or not they won the previous game, this one has proper analysis and insight, not lazy assumptions.

The Sky Sports ‘Jones Knows’ column looks at the matches from a betting perspective and has been concentrating on this Newcastle United game away at Arsenal.

Lewis Jones (who is the Sky Sports expert behind the ‘Jones Knows’ column) has highlighted some major underlying factors that could / should have a big bearing on this Newcastle v Arsenal game.

“The last thing Arsenal need is a match with huge needle potential right now.

“Red cards are threatening to ruin their season already with three of them flashed in their direction and this fixture has always flirted with boiling over – whether it would be Newcastle ending Arsenal’s top-four bid in 2022 or a controversial VAR call last year.

“Desgracia,” as a famous man once said.

“This game could head down the same explosive path with cards to the fore.

“Sky Bet have 50+ booking points (10 for a yellow, 25 for red) priced up at 4/7 so there’s no angle there but Kai Havertz is a runner to be carded at 100/30.

“Despite making 23 fouls this season across all competitions he has yet to be carded but is a player that does usually attract the attention of the referees. He was booked in eight of his last 14 starts last season. One is due.

“Score Prediction: Newcastle 0 Arsenal 1”

Always interesting to hear what the Sky Sports expert has to say with his analysis on Newcastle United matches and some good stuff there.

The Sky Sports man choosing to focus on Arsenal (lack of) discipline, especially in light of their last Premier League game seeing a red card and 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth.

Whilst he alludes to this same fixture and what happened almost exactly 12 months ago, a failure to look at what exactly happened when it came to the discipline side of that glorious and hilarious 1-0 win over a crying Arteta and their entire embarrassing club and much of their fanbase. The proverbial bad losers.

The big thing that the referee Stuart Attwell and VAR got wrong that day, was the failure to send a player off for one of the most cowardly and horrific ‘challenges’ I have ever seen, that somehow didn’t produce a sending off.

Sean Longstaff running down the line and Havertz launching himself two-footed, no attempt to play the ball, a challenge/assault that could have seen Longstaff seriously injured.

Yet, the referee thought a yellow card was the correct punishment for the cowardly Havertz!

The Newcastle United players were furious and incredulous at the failure to red card the Arsenal player, with Gordon, Longstaff and Schar all picking up yellows. Quite ludicrous, from that incident, no red card for Arsenal and just one yellow, whilst United three yellows!

Indeed, summing up how biased he was towards Arsenal and harsh on Newcastle, the Gunners didn’t pick up a single other card, whilst NUFC ended up with five, as Bruno and Livramento also carded.

This is a match that could produce any of the three results and I just hope that referee today John Brooks is up to the job, unlike that clown 12 months ago. On VAR today is Jarred Gillett, who was actually spot on last weekend at Chelsea with his calls.

Newcastle United upcoming matches confirmed to end of January 2025:

Saturday 2 November – Newcastle v Arsenal (12.30pm) TNT Sports

Sunday 10 November – Forest v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports

Monday 25 November – Newcastle v West Ham (8pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 30 November – Crystal Palace v Newcastle

Wednesday 4 December – Newcastle v Liverpool (7.30pm) Amazon

Saturday 7 December – Brentford v Newcastle (3pm)

Saturday 14 December – Newcastle v Leicester (3pm)

W/C Monday 16 December – Newcastle v Brentford

Saturday 21 December – Ipswich v Newcastle (3pm)

Thursday 26 December – Newcastle v Villa (3pm) Amazon

Monday 30 December – Man U v Newcastle (8pm) Sky Sports