Obvious statement alert……this is a huge game in the early parts of the season. Our draw last week at home to City had let Liverpool open up a 5 point lead. We’ve had a rough start to the season from a fixture point of view, and none of the results could be described as horrific, with 5 dropped points against the other two pre-season title favourites, one of which was away from home.
However, despite the results not being terrible, it still being early days in the season and the performances and squad looking pretty good, we can’t let that gap open up any further. I’m sure Liverpool will drop points soon but psychologically speaking, giving the Champions a potent eight point lead would be really damaging and leave us with a lot of ground to make up.
So I guess the answer to the title question is yes, this is a must win game!
Areas of encouragement
I may live to regret typing these words but this Newcastle team is not the time of years gone by. They had a tough summer in the transfer window with many players turning them down and losing their best player in pretty awful way and this has then been carried forward into the season in my opinion. They’ve struggled for goals in the early part of the season and their form has been patchy at best. They’ve bought Wissa, who has since been injured and they’re also missing a few other key players through injury, notably Schar and Jacob Ramsey but what they really miss is their talismanic, game changing striker in Isak. He’s the real miss.
With Newcastle struggling for goals up top, what gives more reason for optimism is the impressive record of our defence. Still just the one goal conceded from open play all game and that was against probably the most lethal striker on the planet, there’s plenty of reasons to think that Arsenal will come away from St James’ Park with a clean sheet. That would be a really strong foundation for which to hopefully come out with all three points as I really think we’ll get at least one goal, so that’s really exciting.
Areas of concern
Our record at Newcastle has been terrible lately. Probably the worst ground for us in recent years, in terms of results, and probably the worst in terms of feelings as well. We’ve had some really painful defeats there, some real moments of anguish and you have to wonder if these thoughts will pray on the players minds in a negative way on Sunday.
They’ve got no Alexander Isak anymore but new boy Nick Woltemade has looked good in his early appearances in a Newcastle shirt and the giant striker will need to be well marshalled to stop him from extending his recent goal scoring form.
Arsenal have looked a little rigid and conservative in midfield in the absence of Martin Odegaard and another Rice/Merino pivot could be our undoing again here if we don’t find a way to be solid and creative at the same time.
What I’d love to see
A really strong midfield performance would be a massive boost, one where we don’t try to match them physically but just play round them.
I’d also love to see a goal from Gyokeres, as he’s gone a few without one lately, and he’s yet to score in a really big game for us (or any away game) and I think this would be the perfect time for him to show up and say, I’ve arrived, don’t worry, I’ve got this.
What I’d hate to see
To see another bullied performance, where Newcastle are first to everything and seem to have more fight than us would be so disappointing. We really need to show we can do the physical stuff as and when needed but that we also can play a bit and don’t need to get drawn into Newcastle’s game of 50/50s and flying tackles.
Lineup and Team News
All eyes will be on the midfield when the teams are announced as Arteta’s lineup against Manchester City last week left many Arsenal fans frustrated as the Rice/Merino pivot has a low success rate in Premier League games and this is one where we really need to win. Martin Odegaard must surely be on the verge of a return to Premier League action as he’s been training most of this week, according to Mikel Arteta, which might mean that the above is a moot point, with Odegaard coming back into the number 10 position alongside Rice.
If he’s only fit enough for the bench, Arteta has a decision to make and to be honest, if he wants to go with Merino, I understand it and I think he should stick with it. I’ve said before that I’m not a fan of Merino in there but if that’s what Arteta wants, he’s surely got a tactical reason for it and the last thing I want to see from our Manager is him changing his principles because of a couple of flat performances and a lot of negative press.
Let’s face it, Newcastle are a physical side so Merino wouldn’t be a terrible shout but I actually think Odegaard will come right back into the lineup here, with Merino dropping to the bench. The back five pretty much picks itself these days, along with Gyokeres, Zubimendi and Rice so that only leaves the wings, as positions of debate. Saka was withdrawn after an hour against Port Vale so I’d expect him to start here and then I think Martinelli will get the nod on the left wing, after his heroics last Sunday. This might be the perfect game for the Brazilian as his pace on the break and ability to track runners could be key.
Predicted lineup:
Raya
Timber
Saliba
Gabriel
Calafiori
Zubimendi
Rice
Odegaard
Saka
Gyokeres
Martinelli
Substitues:
Kepa
White
Lewis-Skelly
Norgaard
Merino
Nwaneri
Trossard
Eze
Dowman
PREDICTION
I’m certain it will be hard fought close contest, as it always is but, I’m going for Arsenal to take this one 2-0 with a goal in each half, professional job.