Well, we lost a game against Bournemouth, we couldn’t win against Liverpool when we should have and have fallen 5 points behind the leader Man City in the league table. Things aren’t going our way, with the injury list as big as it can get and some very unfortunate red cards shown to us. And to top it off, we get to play the third game in a week against a very physical, aggressive Newcastle side away from home.
But, I’m sure Arteta would be showing our last visit to St. James’ Park when we were shoved (Gabriel – Bruno), had verbal altercations (Rice – Bruno) and wrong ref/VAR calls were given (the only goal of that game). There’s only one thing we can’t control, but we are going to counter their physicality with our ‘Dark Arts’ and I’m sure players Kai Havertz would have been giving lectures.
It’s a very important game for us, Newcastle are vulnerable at the moment and if we manage to win, it keeps us in the title challenge.
Team News
In the team news, Big Gabi is doubtful to make it to the playing XI after missing out the game against Preston. William Saliba is the only surety in that backline, after serving the red against Liverpool which he picked up in the Bournemouth game. Ben White has picked up a joint injury and didn’t train this week, so he could also miss out. It will be a conundrum for Mikel to pick the back 4. Kiwior, Zinchenko, Saliba, Timber are available for sure, Thomas Partey could make it at the RB if Mikel tries to be smart and sacrifices one of Kiwior or Zinchenko.
Odegaard, Tomiyasu, Tierney and Calafiori will not be available.
Zinchenko made the Preston game so he is most likely to start at LB position And Timber should start on the right side. It’s going to be a very tough, physical, intense game and I hate to say it but Calafiori was more suited for this than Zinchenko. Newcastle are a tough team and they play a good attacking, pressing game. Kiwior dropped a good performance against Preston and if it’s up to me, I would rather see him play than Zinchenko.
Midfield? It’s going to be usuals – Thomas Partey, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino. Partey still has his footballing vision intact but he has lost some of his athleticism and is pushed off the ball very easily. In a physical game, we need players than can shield the ball from opposition and take those blows without affecting one own’s performance. Declan Rice can do that but Partey can’t. I would rather fix Rice as a DM, Merino by his side in the defensive duty and let Nwaneri play an advance role like Odegaard used to do.
Front 3 should be back to basics, Marts, Havertz and Saka. Lets not try to be smart here.
Wrapping Up
We had beaten Newcastle 4-1 at home the last time we played in Premier League. Havertz, Saka and Kiwior were on the scoresheet with the 4th goal being an own goal from Botman. Willock scored from the Newcastle side. We had lost the first tie when Anthony Gordon’s controversial goal was the highlight of the day. The ball was out of play, ref and VAR decided it wasn’t and it was given a goal against us.
We have a problem physically if Ben White is not available today. Newcastle and Bruno G in particular are going to be physically intimidating. Declan Rice, and Thomas Partey can sustain that a bit but we need someone to be on offensive side. Havertz is the only one left with ‘Dark Arts’ and I would surely miss Ben if he don’t make it today.
I want us to thrash them, humble them a bit at their home and I want us to move closer to the top of the league.
Right, that’s all for today. See you during the match.
KP
Sounds like a fun win yesterday at county.
Interesting games to night were we hope Spuds do us a favour by beating Villa.
Manure now with new manager bounce taking 3 points against the Chavs would also work in our favour.
Shouldn’t be in this position but we need others to drop points as we are.
That said I think 2:3 Villa and 2:2 Manure home to Chavs….
Not that my predictions are anything to go by.
Yesterday would have been one of those occasions on le grove when piss poor Pedro would have experienced a rare moment of sense and lucidity, enough to question his idol’s tenure at the club.
Only to change his mind a few days later after we might draw or win a game of course…
I hope Arteta’s culo is not only stinging but twitching nervously today in case the phone rings from Missouri (or wherever that toupe’ed, Trump-lovin twat of an owner of ours lives these days…)
Tony
It was…and it was also the perfect antidote to thinking about Arteta, hand chopper-offers and semi naked Geordie maggots. Not the highest quality football you’ll ever see but here are the highlights.
https://youtu.be/usw__EAm9Tk?si=QxixRQHKgyV6T-aA
The control exhibited by the Flint forward in the lead up to their goal was pure Bergkamp! No, really. 😆
So Arteta’s about to “celebrate” his 5th anniversary of being appointed in a season where a quarter of the way through we’re 7 points off the top and will finish the day somewhere between 4th and 6th. He’s spent almost €800 million and inherited several hundred million pounds worth of talent.
In his 5 years his achievement list is one FA Cup and to take a team who finished 2 points off third the season before he took over into the CL a couple of times.
So bearing in mind we don’t get any idea of what Kroenke’s thinking (the important one not the strange bloke who lives in Wales!) what would it take for them to decide this is an incredibly expensive failed experiment?
Where at a stage where we have to start winning things (its possible we missed our window) otherwise we looking at big teams who have been out of sorts getting back to normal levels of performance and some of our top players beginning to wonder if the grass is greener elsewhere.
If Arteta does not win the PL this season he must be fired.
KP
Thanks for the link I’ll look later.
Spuds villa has started well.
Marc
It’s incredulous how MA had had so long when you consider how quick Emery was despatched.
Kroenkes must be looking at Villa thinking he’s done what in 2 seasons?
Win the PL or he has to go. The new contract must be looking like a foolish decision now.
Our EMI Martinez has just won his 2nd year running for world keeper of the year.
Tony
Did he jerk the trophy off? That’s the only thing that interests me! Spurs losing…again!
it’s so frustrating to have to endure the misguided and half-hearted transformational maneuvers of our capricious skipper…it’s not like I don’t understand what he’s attempted to do from one year to the next, but none of his moves have produced the desired results…in fact, several of his so-called tactical adjustments have actually led to a significant regression in the opposition’s end…that said, it didn’t have to be like this…instead of doing his due diligence, by providing like-for-like cover pieces out wide, signing a significant Xhaka upgrade and addressing our obvious Striker shortcomings, he instead signed an ill-suited “wide” man, a tweener who didn’t fit the Xhaka replacement script, a DM with a totally illogical agenda, a midfielder who can’t unlock defences and a bevy of soon-to-be shoehorned defenders…so in many respects he’s simply reaping what he sowed
KP
Spuds heard you lol have Emery a bloody nose and no doubt bringing Emi down to earth shipping 4 goals.
I headed to bed at half time and just caught the score.
I’ll watch Manure and Chavs in the morning.
TRVL
I don’t see much changing with the new additions, game selections and ill suited tactics where we were overrun all game in midfield on Saturday.
First time I want Manure to win or draw. Probably to early for the new bounce,
New post.