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Arsenal's gauntlet of a January continues on Tuesday night as they welcome Newcastle to the Emirates for the first leg of their Carabao Cup sem-final.
The Gunners were preparing for a season-changing trip to Dubai this time last year, but an unrelenting 2024/25 calendar will not allow for any such luxuries this time around.
Mikel Arteta's squad was hindered by illness last week, and the club's injury bug has refused to surrender at the start of the new year. Teenager Ethan Nwaneri is the latest to join the treatment room, with the boss revealing the extent of Arsenal's availability woes in Monday's pre-match presser.
Here's how Arsenal could line up for Newcastle's midweek visit as they aim to take a giant leap towards Wembley.
Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Newcastle
Goalkeeper & Defenders
David Raya (GK) - Raya is set to make his second appearance in the competition on Tuesday having made his bow against Crystal Palace in the quarter-finals. Pointless summer arrival Neto is cup-tied.
Jurrien Timber (RB) - Timber was suspended at the weekend which means he should be fresh for Newcastle and a potential match-up with Anthony Gordon.
William Saliba (CB) - Arteta tends to offer Saliba respite when the Carabao Cup comes around, but his presence was needed to help Arsenal turn the tide against Palace in the last eight. Given the importance of this fixture, I don't expect the boss to mess around with his backline.
Gabriel (CB) - Alexander Isak enters the contest as one of the world's most in-form strikers, scoring in seven consecutive Premier League appearances. It'll be up to Gabriel and Saliba to shackle the Swede having failed to do so in November.
Myles Lewis-Skelly (LB) - Arteta will be cautious with Riccardo Calafiori after he completed 90 minutes on Saturday, so we could see the Hale End graduate come back into the XI.
Midfielders
Thomas Partey (DM) - Partey shone at the base of midfield against Brentford on New Year's Day, but Timber's suspension at the weekend forced him out of the engine room. The Ghanaian should be back in the middle of the park on Tuesday.
Declan Rice (CM) - A rugged Newcastle midfield awaits Arsenal in midweek, and they'll lean more on their physicality with master technician Bruno Guimaraes out. Rice is in good form and will aim to match the Magpies here.
Martin Odegaard (CM) - It's been a quiet period for Odegaard, who hasn't been able to grab this team by the scruff of its neck since Saka tore his hamstring. He was ill on Saturday and limited to a cameo off the bench, so hopefully he's feeling better in time for Newcastle's visit.
Forwards
Gabriel Martinelli (RW) - With Saka, Sterling and Nwaneri all out, Arteta will likely go back to Martinelli down the right. The Brazilian got no change out of Tino Livramento in November, and he'll now try his luck against the similarly impressive Lewis Hall.
Gabriel Jesus (ST) - Kai Havertz is poorly and I don't think he starts for the third consecutive game. Let's hope he's an option off the bench. Jesus netted a hat-trick in the quarter-finals and has enjoyed an upsurge in scoring form since.
Leandro Trossard (LW) - Arteta's options are thin up top, with Trossard poised to get the nod down the left. The Belgian international hasn't scored since 30 November.