Can we extend our PL record against Newcastle? | Feature | News

We host Newcastle United on Saturday, looking to extend a Premier League record we’ve achieved during three decades of tussles against the Magpies.

There have been plenty of memorable games against the Tynesiders in that time, such as the incredible 7-3 thriller in 2012 or the 2-0 success sealed by Dennis Bergkamp’s brilliance in 2002, but it’s been our defensive displays that have helped us to a particular landmark in the competition’s history.

That’s because out of the 61 Premier League fixtures between the sides, we have managed to keep clean sheets in over half of them, with 31 shutouts recorded against the Geordies. That mark is the most any side has kept against a single opponent in the division since its creation in 1992:

Most clean sheets against a single opponent in PL

That figure includes seven consecutive home clean sheets between 2014 and 2024 when former Gunner Joe Willock’s consolation ended a decade-long search for a goal in N5 from the Black and Whites, while just under a year ago, David Raya was unbeaten as we triumphed 1-0 thanks to a Declan Rice strike.

That was our 31st clean sheet at the Magpies’ expense, which incredibly is five more than any of our other Premier League opponents:

Most clean sheets we’ve kept in PL

Thirteen of those came at St James’ Park, with the 18 others split between seven at Highbury and 11 at Emirates Stadium – a venue Newcastle have won at once in the league in 17 games, scoring just eight times in the process. Only Stoke City, who lost on all 10 visits, average fewer points per game than the Magpies since their first visit in 2006:

Teams with fewest PL points per game at Emirates Stadium (min 10 games)

However, while our clean sheet record against Newcastle is superb, goals win games. But thankfully for us, there have also been plenty going in at the right end in our Magpies matches – and Saturday’s game brings up the chance to hit another landmark.

We have scored 99 times in the previous 61 clashes, meaning Newcastle could become the fifth team we have scored a century of goals against in the Premier League:

Teams we’ve scored most PL goals against

Many of our strikers will have given the Toon Army nightmares over the decades, and none more so than Olivier Giroud who scored eight times against Newcastle, including three braces, while Thierry Henry and Robin van Persie chipped in with six apiece.

Meanwhile, seven current Gunners have contributed to that total, and in fact, each of our last 10 Premier League goals against Newcastle have been scored by different players.