Newcastle United are expected to be on their travels for the opening day of the Premier League season.
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Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur find out where they will begin the 2025/26 Premier League campaign on Wednesday morning but some early murmurings will come as a big relief to both north London sides.
The Gunners once again look to go one better than second next year and finally lift the Premier League trophy under Mikel Arteta. Meanwhile, on the other side of north London, Spurs are preparing for a new era under Thomas Frank following the sacking of Ange Postecoglou.
Last year, Arsenal started the season with a 2-0 win over Wolves at the Emirates Stadium and would no doubt love another bottom half side at home next term. For Spurs, it was a 1-1 draw with newly promoted Leicester City.
Newcastle United unlikely to begin Premier League campaign at home
One fixture neither club will want is an away day at St James’ Park. A trip to Newcastle United has become somewhat of a bogey fixture for both teams and the atmosphere on Geordieland for the opening fixture would make the venue almost unplayable for a visitor.
It’s therefore welcome news that the Magpies are set to be on the road for the opening weekend of the Premier League season. While that won’t be confirmed until Wednesday morning, NewcastleWorld reporter Jordan Cronin has explained why the division’s hand may be forced.
He wrote on social media platform X: “NUFC expected to be away from home on the opening weekend of the 25-26 Premier League season. This is due to SAFC needing to play away the weekend after due to the SOL hosting the Women's Rugby WC match between England & USA.
“Premier League notes: ‘We look at whether we have clubs from the same area travelling on the same train lines across the Football League and the Premier League on the same day. We want to avoid having ‘pinch points’ on the rail and road network.
“’Most clubs will have a partner club with whom they cannot clash, such as Manchester United and Manchester City, or Liverpool and Everton. In London it gets a bit more complex and less obvious’.”
Arsenal and Spurs struggle at St James’ Park
Mikel Arteta and Thomas Frank will be relieved by that news. Newcastle United have beaten Arsenal at St James’ Park in the last three of those fixtures with the Gunners getting better of the Tyneside outfit just once in their last five matches.
The Magpies landed a big blow on Arsenal’s title hopes with a 1-0 win in November and a 2-0 victory at the stadium in February knocked Arteta’s side out the Carabao Cup. It was also at St James’ Park where Newcastle United beat the London team 1-0 in November 2023, with a controversial Anthony Gordon goal leaving Arteta fuming with VAR.
Avoiding another trip to St James’ Park so early would be a boost for Arsenal, and that’s the same for Tottenham Hotspur. Newcastle United have beaten Spurs in five of their last six meetings.
Those wins have included drubbings in the North East. Eddie Howe’s men thrashed Spurs 4-0 in April 2024 and 6-1 in April 2023. While Frank will hope that his tenure erases demons of recent years, the manager has only won two of his 10 meetings with Newcastle United and never picked up a win at St James’ Park.
In other news, Arsenal should act immediately to sign 'born winner' available for just £25m - opinion.