Arsenal will host Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium in a late kick-off on Saturday as the Gunners look to get back to winning ways after that shocker of a performance in mid-week against Porto.
There should be an air of revenge when it comes to Newcastle United, after they score that goal from ball rolling over the line. Coming on the turf the men in Red and White need to forget what happened in Portugal and move on.
The Gunners’ will have tired legs as this is their third game this week hence it is important for the team lining up to play with intensity and grow into the game as North London Forever is sung at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal have been in fine goalscoring form in the Premier League and they would love to get some behind Dubravka on Saturday.
HERE’S HOW ARSENAL SHOULD LINEUP AGAINST NEWCASTLE UNITED:
David Raya has been critical in Arsenal build up phase but he conceded howler of a goal against Porto in the Champions League. His starting position was too ahead of the net giving himself no chance to get fingers to that Galeno shot.
The defence in front of Raya has to be the same four in Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães, and Jakub Kiwior. Ben White’s injury niggles will be tested as he is set to play thrice in a week for the first time since December. He had been carrying a niggle although it looks like he has recovered following Arsenal’s trip to Dubai.
Takehiro Tomiyasu will be an alternative for Mikel Arteta on either side. Tomiyasu comes back into the fold from Asia Cup and he had been impressive for Arsenal in the first half of the season before catching up with an injury.
Coming into the midfield, Declan Rice should be at the base again with Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz on either side of him. Havertz should be an important figure in the game, he not only gives us an option to go long but also ascertain physical presence in the middle.
Going into the attack, Bukayo Saka starts on the right flank. He will again look to get some passes in tight phases against Newcastle’s block. Gabriel Martinelli will have an opportunity to run in some space with Kieran Trippier interested in offensive sequences. Martinelli didn’t have the best of time against Porto taking on his men, he would be looking to get back into his groove again. And Lastly, The Belgian Leandro Trossard who has made quite an impact since he got himself back to the side with Gabriel Jesus injured. Against Newcastle at the carpet, he should have yet another opportunity to start in the false nine position for Arsenal tonight.
ARSENAL PREDICTED XI VS NEWCASTLE UNITED:
Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Rice, Odegaard, Havertz; Saka, Martinelli, Trossard.
