Playmaker's weekend top tier thigh-rubbers

Our weekly pick of the one-to-watch fixture from each of England's top four tiers finds you some top of the table beauties, as title challengers take on promotion pushers.

Premier League:

Arsenal vs Newcastle, The Emirates, Sunday 16:30

©Getty / Owen Humphreys

While Arsenal remain unbeaten in 2020, they have just one league win in the five games this year, and even though many took positives from the 0-0 last time out against Burnley, Mikel Arteta looked incredibly frustrated at the full time whistle.

Returning to the Emirates after a month away in the league, Arsenal face a Newcastle side who in terms of set up are easy to judge, but when it comes to the 90 minutes anything can happen. 

Unbeaten in their last eight in all competitions, Newcastle are level of points with Arsenal in the league on 31, and a win here could not only boost their survival hopes massively, but it could also put immense pressure on Arteta in what was meant to be a write-off of a season.

»Key Men: Pierre Emerick Aubameyang & Allan Saint-Maximin«

Arsenal could really do with their captain and leading goalscorer to get them out of this drawing funk, while Newcastle will be relying on an increasingly dangerous looking Saint-Maximin.

📈 Unbeaten in the league in 2020 (top four tiers):

PL: Arsenal, Liverpool*
Ch: -
L1: Coventry, Gillingham
L2: -

* unbeaten in 2019/20.#AFC #LFC #PUSB #Gills pic.twitter.com/FEIqinnWW3

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) February 12, 2020

Championship:

Leeds vs Bristol City, Elland Road, Saturday 15:00

©Getty / Mark Kerton

In terms of the public’s attention, there’s few teams in England who have as many eyes on them right now as Leeds, who eased a small amount of pressure when drawing against promotion rivals Brentford midweek.

The problem is though, it was yet another game they should have won comfortably, and against a lower placed side, frustration would have grown even more.

A similar proposition travels to Elland Road this weekend with Bristol City throwing themselves right back in the play-off fight with five wins in six and a solid transfer window that saw the arrival of 14 goal Nahki Wells.

In fact a win for Lee Johnson over Marcelo Bielsa would move his side just level on points as the Championship re-enters chaos mode, and continue to confirm Johnson as one of the most wiley operators in the young English coaching game. 

»Key Men: Kiko Casilla & Nahki Wells«

The social media reaction to Casilla's howler against Brentford was very telling, and if anyone is to punish him again, Bristol City will be relying on new signing Wells, who broke his duck last time out.

❓ This Friday's Playmaker Quiz definitely deserves a coffee break...and you'll need to muster all your trivia reserves if you're to ace it.

Have you got the #Championship's top scorers over the past 1⃣0⃣ seasons in your locker?!

👉 https://t.co/rjqR1L9ooD#EFL #PlaymakerQuiz pic.twitter.com/KNqAfg16OA

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) February 7, 2020

League One: Oxford vs Sunderland, The Kassam Stadium, Saturday 15:00

©Getty / Alex Davidson

It seems slightly odd to see Oxford down in ninth after a season of fun that’s seen a promotion push and two glorious cup runs and against Sunderland this weekend, the Us have the chance to get back to their headline making ways, or risk their campaign quickly run out of steam.

For the Black Cats, the trajectory has been quite the opposite. Struggling under Jack Ross before his sacking, and off to a slow start with Phil Parkinson, their new boss is gradually turning things round, displaying a level of consistency that’s made the play-offs possible and also an outside chance of the top two.

A win at home for Oxford after a big stumble would see them back in the hunt, but you wouldn’t bet against Sunderland, for whom three points would strengthen an increasinly solid case for a Championship return.

»Key men: James Henry & Chris Maguire«

Two of the most experienced players on the pitch will be setting the standards for their sides in this scrap as they have done in recent weeks.

📈 Most league points in 2020 (top 4 tiers):

2⃣0⃣: 👉SUNDERLAND👈, Doncaster, Crewe
1⃣9⃣: Peterborough, Plymouth
1⃣8⃣: Liverpool, Rotherham
1⃣7⃣: Coventry, Port Vale, Swindon#SAFC @SunderlandAFC #DRFC @drfc_official #CreweAlex @crewealexfc pic.twitter.com/3DVE3gPWP6

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) February 12, 2020

League Two:

Plymouth vs Crewe, Home Park, Saturday 15:00

©Getty / MI News

Crewe, on a four game winning run, travel to Plymouth, who themselves have had similar spells recently in a tie that could go a long way to dictating which three sides make it up to the third tier, and on current form it could be both of these two.

Alexandra are now two points off of the division lead with a game in hand, and are displaying the kind of steel that makes them a very safe bet to stick around in an inconsistent top three, while Plymouth will be welcoming a side that they can go a point behind with a win on Saturday.

»Key men: Charlie Kirk & Antoni Sarcevic«

Two of League Two's most exciting talents meet off the back of some impressive form.

📈 Most league comeback wins (top 4 tiers; 2019/20):

7⃣: 💥CREWE💥
5⃣: West Brom, Burton, Coventry, Cambridge
4⃣: Luton, Stoke, Swansea#CreweAlex @crewealexfc @charliekirkx pic.twitter.com/dxdSUL8C39

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) February 10, 2020

🌪️Thanks to #StormCiara there's limited action today, which gives us the perfect oportunity to catch up on the January transfer window.

💶With some huge moves made, let Playmaker guide you through the 10 big January deals you might have missed...

💰https://t.co/a3iCMYbBXj💰 pic.twitter.com/4bT9FIepxS

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) February 9, 2020