Arsenal Vs Newcastle United: This is what everyone wanted, right?

Arsenal travel to Newcastle United to open their Premier League season on Sunday with a slew of injuries and absences. The youth, then, must be trusted. But this is what everyone wanted, right?

The Premier League season is here. After a long summer with a fascinating transfer window that ended somewhat gloriously for Arsenal, the normal routines of the campaign again return to the fore. And for the Gunners, that begins with a trip to Newcastle United.

Find the latest episode of the Pain in the Arsenal Podcast here — The 2019/20 Season Preview

Sadly for Unai Emery and his team, they are dealing with a slew of absences throughout the team. Alexandre Lacazette has an ankle problem and is a doubt, Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac have not travelled with the squad due to safety concerns, while the likes of Dani Ceballos, Nicolas Pepe, Lucas Torreira, Matteo Guendouzi and David Luiz are all dealing with a lack of match fitness. Meanwhile, Hector Bellerin, Kieran Tierney and Rob Holding will all miss out due to injuries from last season.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

As a result, Emery is having to field what might seem like a weakened team. And make no mistake about it, it is a weakened team. But it also might present an opportunity for some of the young players that many fans have been waiting to see feature in the first-team squad.

Take the wide positions, for instance. Pepe is unlikely to start, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will most likely be used through the middle with Lacazette dropping to the bench, while Alex Iwobi departed on deadline day. Suddenly, the options are not that convincing.

This could present Reiss Nelson with an opportunity to start on the right or left, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan flanking Aubameyang. For some, Nelson may not seem as though as he is ready to start a Premier League game, but all summer, fans have been baying for these talented young players to be used.

In central midfield, Joe Willock, who was arguably Arsenal’s most impactful player in the pre-season, has a terrific opportunity to start. Granit Xhaka will play, but Torreira and Guendouzi both have not played many minutes in the summer due to their international responsibilities, while Ceballos is still adapting to the Premier League and his new surroundings.

Willock is a tremendously talented player, but he is a little raw. Does he have the positional understanding to start a Premier League game against senior opposition? Can he handle the greater physical intensity of a full 90-minute first-team match? These are questions that we do not yet know the answer to.

But we also will never know the answer to these questions without Willock being started in these type of matches. The same goes for Nelson. For all of the furore that has surrounded these young prospects throughout the summer, the push has come to the shove. It is time for Emery to stand by his word.

Yes, the lacking squad is a little concerning. And yes, Newcastle are no gimme opposition. But fans have wanted Emery to use these young players for a long time. Now, it is time to do precisely that.