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Arsenal welcome Newcastle in the Premier League on Monday evening.
There is a joke in there somewhere about Magpies supposedly being attracted to silver, Arsenal being a mid-table side and them heading to the Emirates twice in a week. Far too complicated to ponder over. I digress.
After everyone has awoken from the slumber they were hypnotised into during the 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace in midweek, football returns to the Emirates Stadium for a third consecutive fixture.
Talk of a supposed corner being turned following three Premier League wins on the bounce was the natural response to seeing Arsenal be anything other than dreadful, although the draw with the Eagles resurfaced a few previously dormant issues.
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Namely, the dreaded low-block.
Anyone hoping they’d seen the last of such a setup for a few days at least won’t be best pleased to know it’s Newcastle on Monday. Any sane manager will know stifling Arsenal in this sense is the best way to nullify their threats, not least when you’re a team who’d be more than pleased to leave the Emirates Stadium with a point in the bag.
Steve Bruce is one such boss, who despite being under considerable pressure on Tyneside will know a draw away at Mikel Arteta‘s side would constitute a positive result. That isn’t to say they won’t try to score, and as supporters will know, were it not for Bernd Leno’s fine intervention in the FA Cup they could, and probably should, have booked their own spot in the fourth round.
Some key members of the squad could return to the starting lineup for Monday, players who will aid the Arsenal cause immensely. Even with some familiar faces back in the team, the lack of quality in the final third was telling against Crystal Palace and a Plan B has to be sought out for sides happy to stick ten men behind the ball.
How will this one go? Here’s your preview ahead of Newcastle’s Premier League visit.
How to Watch on TV
When Is Kick Off? Monday 18 January
What Time Is Kick Off? 20:00 (GMT)
Where Is it Played? The Emirates Stadium
TV Channel/Live Stream? Sky Sports (UK) fuboTV (USA)
Referee? David Coote
Arsenal Team News
One day, maybe, Arsenal will have a clean bill of health. The last time that happened was probably during a pre-season many moons ago, and even that’s doubtful.
Yes of course, as players return from lay-offs, others take up their spots in the treatment room. Most positive of all, Thomas Partey earned some valuable minutes late on against Crystal Palace having not featured since the north London derby, with all signs pointing towards a return to the starting lineup on Monday.
"“Now we have the reassurance that he can compete,” Arteta told the official Arsenal website. “He did it for 25, 30 minutes. He did it well, he didn’t feel anything so now we’re going to be looking for the next step.”"
As for Gabriel Martinelli, he’s back in full training have missed a couple of days following a strain of his ankle, which puts him well placed to get time on the pitch, whether from the start or not, against the Magpies.
https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1350081670683226112
Kieran Tierney sat out the recent draw with muscle tightness, an expected occurrence given the sheer volume of games he’s clocked up over the festive period. In with a chance of being thrust straight back into the team, it will probably be a case of needs must. And Arsenal sure need him.
Gabriel Magalhaes is expected to get the nod after recovering from COVID-19, not least because Pablo Mari has been ruled out for the next couple of games with a muscle injury. Mari is a miss as he’s been excellent over the recent spell, which is why it’s fortunate that the first choice Brazilian is back in the fray.
Regarding the visitors, Jamal Lewis is back from a knock while captain Jamaal Lascelles is available having sat out the recent defeat to Sheffield United. Federico Fernandez is a doubt and so too is Allan Saint-Maximin, while Ryan Fraser misses out through suspension.
Predicted Lineups
Arsenal: Leno; Bellerin, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney; Partey, Xhaka, Smith Rowe; Saka, Aubameyang, Martinelli
Newcastle: Darlow; Yedlin, Lascelles, Schar, Clark, Dummett; Almiron, Hayden, Shelvey, Joelinton; Wilson
Arsenal vs Newcastle Score Prediction
It will be interesting to see who Arteta opts to choose up front. Martinelli, if fit, can’t be left out, but that means dropping one of either in-form Alexandre Lacazette or the captain.
There is a strong case to suggest that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang shouldn’t be in the starting lineup at all, but Arteta has been known to stick with certain players and Aubameyang’s omission is unlikely.
https://twitter.com/PainInThArsenal/status/1350124591319052288
With Martinelli in the side, Arsenal have more chance of winning. Simple as that. Tenacity and explosiveness were lacking against the Eagles, thus with the Brazilian back the hosts have someone who can suddenly beat their man and break through even the toughest of resistances.
Working on that basis, and still suffering from the disappointment of drawing blank in midweek, the Gunners should be geared up for this one. Add to that some appalling Newcastle form, and scoring early could see this game put to the visitors who could easily be picked off.
Newcastle will be stronger with Wilson leading their attack, the ilk of striker who doesn’t need a handful of chances to get himself on the scoresheet, and his inevitable battle with one or both of Gabriel and Holding will be intriguing to watch unfold.
However, regardless of how poor Arsenal can be (are) against low-blocks, a flailing Newcastle side do not possesses an set of players as disciplined as Crystal Palace do.
For that reason, it should be three points.