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.
Only Saka and Nhwari have the skillset to get an impossible goal. Today ,now Saka looks clobbered , not fully fit
blunt instrument anyone?
We could be 7th Monday if we don’t get a point here and others win….
100m dollars and he can’t fucking put that in nets.
Tony
Not me, that’s what Mikel Arteta thought.
Saka’s cross was meant for giraffe who stood crouched. For Rice it was unexpected , but Rice is not much good in headers
how many times can our MIT get so easily outmanaged before someone in America takes notice???
Wasn’t this season the one we win the PL?
Wheels are off the wagon early November and I’m not one bit surprised.
Sorry Ambarish MA needs to join Ten Hag.
Compared to last season like for like results we’re 4 points down, scored 2 less and conceded 4 more.
I feel for the traveling fans gutting more for them.
Inter and Chavs next…..
dropped points in 5 of our last 8
We’re not in the title fight this season we’re fighting for 3rd or 4th at best.
We’re away at Chelsea next week – they beat us and we could be 5 points behind them, a team who were a complete basket case 4 months ago with a new manager.
ElB virtually stormed out sort of ignoring Howe and stretched hand.
Yeah , likely today might be why we will be again also -rans….in spite of a Billion £ squad .( Don’t convert into € ),. Those Europe teams can twist ElB knickers into knots with his crucial in
I still believe the Havertz experiment will lead to his demise…unfortunately we’re going to have to feel the full brunt of that decision too
That was one of worst performances from us in a long time…
And we played Bournemouth not so long ago.
not so fast Ambarish, according to the number crunching fucks we won that match 1.1-0.6
Guys we know it was coming during the summer when we couldn’t land a striker of note.
Apart from the City game, Spuds and Villa games, we have looked the same impotent play as today for 95 minutes.
We need a striker or we are a one many team: Ode! Only Ode is out being the player of note. Tomi and Calafiori are not starters for us.
Mirror out with an inquest
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/arsenal-newcastle-premier-league-highlights-34022477
Got to
Love B’mouth giving Pep a living nightmare with City a goal down….
Pool a goal down to Brighton will do nicely