Newcastle United fans will love what Mikel Arteta has said about St James' Park

Mikel Arteta has been speaking about Newcastle United ahead of his side’s clash with the Magpies on Sunday. Arsenal have enjoyed a solid start to the season so far, but they still have ground to make up on Liverpool, currently five points worse off compared to the leaders.

The Gunners need a consistent run of form to make up that gap, but they face a big test against a Newcastle side who are desperate to improve their early form after winning only once so far.

The Magpies will have ambitions of qualifying for the Champions League again this season, but they have struggled for consistency up to this point. Ahead of Arsenal taking on Newcastle on Sunday, Arteta was asked whether he sees Newcastle as a different proposition without Alexander Isak, who joined Liverpool on deadline day.

“No, because he wasn't playing against Barcelona and what could have been in the first 30 or 40 minutes could be very different to the result,” he responded. “I always praise the work that Eddie and the coaching staff have done there and the way they have managed to create such an atmosphere, especially at home, and a very clear identity of playing football, they make it really difficult.

“We know the test, we know that we're going to have to be much more efficient than we've been lately when we played up there to win the game, and we're going to work on that in the next two days.

“It’s a lot of games that you have to dominate when you play against them, now we have to be ready because they continue so rapidly, so quickly, it’s a really intense match. We will prepare for that, we know that as well, but increasing especially our efficiency and two very specific key things I think it gives us the best chance to win the game.”

Asked about the atmosphere at St James’ Park, the Spaniard added: “Incredibly beautiful; I think it’s one of the best football atmospheres in this country. As a player, as a fan, as a coach, you want to live in this atmosphere; they play every single ball with you. It’s electric, there is so much support there and it’s one team, one city, I think that makes it different as well. It’s such a challenge and opportunity as well, so it’s a great game to play. “

Last time Arsenal met Newcastle, they won 1-0 to snap a three-game losing streak against the North-East side, but Arteta does not believe he can simply replicate that game plan.

“Every game will be different. I didn’t like the first minutes that we played at the Emirates against them, I like other parts of it,” he admitted. “There are a lot of parts I liked about the games we played at St James’ Park, but not especially when we conceded the goals but we will have to be better. I think the level is better, their level will rise, our level will rise and we’re going to have to be at our best. If we do that, we’re going to have a good chance to win the game.”

Your next Arsenal read, Merson and Sutton make Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham predictions