The entire football world is shutting its social media down this weekend as part of a unified protest against continued racism towards players & other figures in the game - managers, pundits etc on social media as Newcastle United play Arsenal at St James' Park at 2.05pm on Sunday knowing a win would practically guarantee Premier League survival mathematically with four games remaining if Fulham lose to Champions League-chasing Chelsea on Saturday night.

Joe Willock's goal at Anfield last week snatched a deserved draw at the home of The Champions, who had taken the lead through an unstoppable Mo Salah swivel and shot, with the last kick of the game after VAR Andy Madley had controversially disallowed Callum Wilson's goal in the 93rd minute:

It was the Arsenal loanee's third late goal in the last four games to secure four huge points for Newcastle with equalizers against Spurs and Liverpool and that winner against West Ham after David Moyes' men had pegged back a 2-0 lead yet Newcastle will have to do without their wonder kid on Sunday against his parent club Arsenal, as Premier League rules forbid him playing in the interests of fair competition.

The entire Premier League weekend will be an unusual one for the football clubs, football media and football authorities have all decided to enact an 81-hour social media blackout covering the entire Gameweek 34 matches from Friday at 3pm to midnight on Monday in protest at the racist abuse that those in the football world continue to receive on social media, an ongoing discrimination that is completely unacceptable and must stop.

Newcastle's Allan Saint-Maximum is a strong supporter of the Premier League's Black Lives Matter anti-racism tag not to be confused with the woke movement of the same name in the United States and 'took the knee' in celebration after scoring against Sheffield United last season in the first game after play resumed in Project Restart:

Arsenal's own players are also staunch supporters of kicking racism out of football and Alexandre Lacazette took the knee against Spartak Moscow players not taking the knee despite one of their players receiving a 10-game ban for racism in the confrontational second leg of the sides' Europa League Quarter-Final and The Gunners going onto win the match superbly was seen by many as a moral victory:

Arsenal's Europa League exploits reaching the Europa League Semi-Finals in which they play Villareal home and away either side of the clash with Newcastle is more impressive than Premier League form which sees them lie 9th in the top flight, making a further mockery of their agreement to join the ill-fated European Super League along with five other rebel clubs in a season in which they are not in the Top 6 of the domestic league.

The fall-out from The Super League farce continues with Spotify owner Daniel Ek fuelling Gooner's protests against The Super League with a takeover stance that will encourage further protests by Gunner's fans demanding a more enlightened and bigger spending billionaire than current owner Stan Kroenke:

Last night's 2-1 defeat by Villareal has been viewed on Tyneside as the perfect result for Newcastle by The Newcastle Chronicle's Chief NUFC Reporter, Lee Ryder:

and in truth Arsenal can consider themselves fortunate to have a lifeline in the second leg after being awarded a penalty for this 'challenge' on Pepe:

Mikel Arteta has made it clear that The Europa League is The Gunners' priority for the remainder of the season although as SKY pointed out, they could technically finish 4th if they won every game and their rivals faltered but Newcastle finishing in the Top 10 is more likely:

Newcastle go into the game having lost just 1 game in their last 8 Premier League games after developing a renewed resilience after the defence was shored up by the return of first choice goalkeeper Martin Dubravka along with the fighting spirit and battling of Paul Dummett and Matt Ritchie as well as attacking star Allan Saint-Maximin, who in the last four matches who has transformed Newcastle's fortunes.

Sunday's game might be the first time that Newcastle's most dangerous front three - Callum Wilson, Miguel Almiron and Saint-Maximin - start a match together since the 3-1 win against Southampton in February when The Magpies were 3-0 up at half-time though Wilson limped off injured in the 42 minutes and Wilson & ASM were both injured in the next home game against Wolves but when they are fit & gel, they are dynamite although Wilson's partnership with Joelinton is a bigger physical threat to opponents.

Steve Bruce in his press conference said that Matt Ritchie is Newcastle's only doubt for Sunday's game and that top goalscorer Callum Wilson is finally ready to start and that he is delighted with recent form and hopes to keep it going against Arsenal.

The Magpies' big players have returned to form and strength at exactly the right time to guide the club out of trouble & after another big result on Sunday can start to feel safe.

Prediction - Newcastle 3 Arsenal 1