Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off on TNT Sports sees Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal make the long trip up to the North East to face Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United. It’s a fixture with a bit of needle in it after last season’s controversy over whether Anthony Gordon’s goal should have stood or not. Although, Arsenal did get their revenge with a comprehensive 4-1 victory back in February. Newcastle are winless in their last 5 Premier League games, but a morale boosting 2-0 win over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup midweek should have lifted the Toon Army’s spirits. Arsenal have slightly faltered after defeat to Bournemouth and having to settle for a draw last time out after leading twice vs. Liverpool.

Saturday Night Football on Sky Sports sees Crystal Palace travel to Wolverhampton Wanderers in a basement battle. Palace sit in 17th place on 6 points after they got their elusive first win of the season last week vs. Tottenham and followed it up with a good win in the cup in midweek. Gary O’Neil’s Wolves side are without a win in their opening 9 Premier League games this campaign and are in 19th position on 2 points.

💰 Punt: Declan Rice Over 0.5 Assists
📗 Bookie: William Hill
🎲 Odds: 6.50 (11/2)
⚽️ Game: Newcastle vs. Arsenal

Arsenal have scored 4 goals from set-pieces this season which is the Premier League best alongside a couple of other teams on the same number. Arteta has made set-pieces a focal point throughout his tenure with the likes of Gabriel chipping in with several goals over the years. A prime example of The Gunners’ strength was evident in the 43rd minute against Liverpool last Sunday when Declan Rice whipped in a beautiful cross for Mikel Merino to head home in superb style.

This led to set-piece coach Nicolas Jover receiving the plaudits. The Berlin-born French football coach has worked at the likes of Montpellier and Dinamo Zagreb before moving to Brentford in 2016, Pep Guardiola then brought him to the Premier League with Man City where he worked alongside Mikel Arteta. The Spaniard was clearly a huge admirer of his work as he then plucked him from under Pep’s nose and took him to Arsenal in 2021. So, is it going to be Game Jover for Newcastle on Saturday lunchtime?

Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice will share set-piece duties, however I’ve been greedy and went with the larger odds on offer with Declan Rice to register an assist at 6.50 (11/2) with William Hill. This is also covered by their Impact Sub offer if Rice is to be substituted. Bet365 are 91.00 (90/1) for lightning to strike twice and Rice to assist Merino scoring a header again or William Hill are 86.00 (85/1) with Rice’s assist part of the Bet Builder being covered by Impact Sub.

💰 Punt: Daichi Kamada To Have 1 Or More Shots Outside The Box
📗 Bookie: Paddy Power
🎲 Odds: 2.50 (6/4)
⚽️ Game: Wolves vs. Crystal Palace

Palace gaffer Oliver Glasner has confirmed the absence of both Eberechi Eze and Adam Wharton for Saturday’s vital clash at Molineux. Eze will be missing until after the international break whilst Adam Wharton will undergo surgery to solve his recurring groin issue.

This means that free-kick taking duties will be up for grabs. In the midweek Carabao Cup victory over high-flying Aston Villa, Japanese midfielder Daichi Kamada assumed responsibility and had a shot from a free-kick in the 68th minute. This was 1 of his 5 shots he had in total after replacing Eze in the 18th minute, with 4 of those efforts coming from outside the box. Since 2017/18, Kamada has registered 262 shots at goal, 87 of those have been from distance.

69% (nice) of the shots Wolves concede come from the middle of the pitch, with 32% of the shots they concede also coming from outside of the box. Hopefully the Japanese midfielder has played his way back into the starting XI and has brought the same shooting boots he had on in midweek.

I’ll also be chancing the higher lines available with Paddy Power:

• Daichi Kamada to have 2 or more shots from outside the box @ 8.50 (15/2)

• Daichi Kamada to have 3 or more shots from outside the box @ 46.00 (45/1)

#CheekyPunts

• Declan Rice Over 0.5 Assists & Mikel Merino To Score a Header @ 91.00 (90/1) - Bet365

• Dan Burn & Kai Havertz to be sent off @ 1001.00 (1000/1) - Bet365 - 1700/1 available with BoyleSports

• Daichi Kamada & Jorgen Larsen to be booked @ 34.00 (33/1) - Bet365