3 things Arsenal really need from this weekend

Domestic football is back. At last. While some nations across the globe had crucial World Cup qualifiers or play-off matches, for many others it was merely rather uninspiring friendly matches. Arsenal included.

Benjamin White played more minutes, this time at right-back for England (Benjamin White-back?) and Kieran Tierney bagged his first goal for Scotland, among some other highlights.

But that’s now in the past. Club action is back on our screens and some good ol’ Arsenal is being served up.

Not until Monday against Crystal Palace, that is.

3 things Arsenal really need from this weekend’s Premier League action as Mikel Arteta prepares his side to face Crystal Palace on Monday

As if the wait wasn’t already painful, there will be further catch up for Mikel Arteta’s side with the rest of the division in action before the Gunners kick off again. It’ll be back to have two matches in hand, even if only briefly.

So what is needed over the Premier League weekend? Without kicking a ball there is still plenty to work on or hope for, with three areas springing to mind.

1. Refocus and Reunite

Beating Brentford 4-1 in a behind closed doors friendly really ran home just how few of the senior Arsenal group aren’t regular internationals.

Takehiro Tomiyasu, Aaron Ramsdale and Gabriel all stayed behind despite being initially called up, leaving just Bernd Leno, Rob Holding, Nuno Tavares and Alexandre Lacazette left to feature in that game.

With a large contingent returning to London Colney, some from Africa and South America, it’s all about getting the group back together and straight back into the mindset they had prior to departing.

Arteta stressed the importance of his during his Thursday press conference:

"“I will have them all today, just try to refocus them, obviously, when they’re on international duty all the time they’re being asked to do different things, different roles, different kind of pressures,” he said. “For some of them, it was their first international, so emotionally for them as well it’s very draining. And make sure that everyone is fine and look forward to the challenge that we have ahead.”"

In the same ways that he lets his players bask in any victories they secure and then the minute they get back into the changing room the focus switches to the next game, he will demand the same priority shift over the weekend.

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2. A Favour From Leicester & Newcastle

Not too much to ask, right?

While the players always get asked about other results and insist they don’t pay attention to what happens elsewhere, we all know full well that is nonsense. There will be precious few of them not keeping tabs on whether Tottenham or Manchester United drop points.

Maybe Benjamin White won’t, but that’s about it.

First up on Saturday is United’s home visit of Leicester, with Brendan Rodgers’ side picking up form at a welcome time with five wins from their last seven matches, and if they can carry some of that over to Old Trafford it would be most welcome.

Of the games this weekend, it’s that one which Arsenal can pin most of their hopes on.

The other fixture to keep a watchful eye of is unlikely to provide any favours. Tottenham host Newcastle in the late game on Sunday with Eddie Howe’s men having lost their last two league outings, albeit by narrow scorelines.

Spurs favour sides that come on to them and leave the gaps in behind, which is exactly what the Magpies will do with Howe’s preference to press from the front. You never know, but don’t get any hopes up.

The final favour to ask is equally unlikely. Chelsea Women host Reading and Arsenal desperately need them to drop any points with their one-point lead over the Gunners having to get cut at some point with just five matches left to play.

After Arsenal bowed out of the Champions League to Wolfsburg on Thursday, they need a pick-me-up. Winning their game Leicester is included in that.

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3. Help on the Injury Front

Arteta provided updates on the three potential absentees for Arsenal in his press conference, with positive news in the case of Bukayo Saka who is back training after recovering from Covid.

The ones to look out for are Aaron Ramsdale and Takehiro Tomiyasu, although only one of them looks like being in with a meaningful chance of being available. Tomiyasu has been in training and would join up with his teammates for harder sessions over the weekend, meaning he has a chance on involvement in some capacity for Monday.

Ramsdale is a doubt, though, and there is no reason to risk him, although with Palace being a team who like to press high and limit the opposition defenders’ time on the ball, his distribution through the lines and over the back for Martinelli would be a welcome addition. Leno’s length of time out saw him look very rusty in that department against Villa.

But it’s not just on Arsenal’s side where a helping hand might do, with Vieira still not ruling out the possibility of Michael Olise and Wilfried Zaha overcoming their respective issues to feature.

Initially appearing to be out of contention, while one should never wish ill of another player, if they can just stay injured for a tiny bit longer there would be no complaints from Arsenal’s side.

Both players are in good form and Palace’s attacking options after them include the unfavoured Odsonne Edouard and Jordan Ayew. It’s an easy decision to make on who you’d rather face.