Morning all.
When the rich and famous rolled into Newcastle Utd in October 2021, great things were expected from the northern club. At least that’s what the so called footballing experts told us. Great wealth, one of Englands best coaches in Eddie Howe, yes, Man City’s dominance in the Premier League was about to be seriously challenged.
Three years later, they’re sitting in 12th place having picked up 12 points from a possible 27. Their last league win at St James Park was on the 1st September when they beat Totts 2-1. Just a few days ago though, they defeated Chelsea 2-0 in the League Cup. I’ve watched some of the highlights of that match and Chelsea’s defending was shocking, their finishing wasn’t any better either. Newcastle certainly press hard and fast from the front which was evident with their first goal although I thought there was a foul in the buildup.
As much as their league form has been average to say the least, Howe has a lot of very good players at his disposal. Isak, Bruno, Joelinton, Willock, Gordon, Tonali, Schar and Wilson to name a few. If they click, they’ll be a difficult side to beat.
During his pre-match press conference, Mikel Arteta spoke about our walking wounded:
On Gabriel’s availability:
We have a training session today. If he can complete that, he’ll be available. He hasn’t had any training sessions yet, but if he’s able to do that today, he’ll be available to be in the squad.
On Calafiori, White and Odegaard:
Riccardo and Martin are out definitely. With Ben, we don’t know yet. He hasn’t trained yet. He could not train, he could not get involved, so let’s wait and see if he’s available.
This time last year, Arsenal went to St James’ Park unbeaten. The game was spicy that’s for sure with Kai Havertz rather fortunate to escape a sending off for a nasty challenge on Sean Longstaff, Guimaraes was equally as fortunate to not see red for his elbow into the face of Jorginho, smashing the ball into Kai Havertz and then getting involved in a spat with Declan Rice.
To this day, their winning goal still irks me because of how it came about. I’m pretty sure that had it have been us scoring that goal, either the ball would have been deemed to have gone out of play, as Joe Willock confirmed, or the foul on Gabriel just before they scored would have been spotted by VAR even it it took them five minutes to check. Mikel Arteta made his feelings more than clear after the game.
I think it’s fair to say that a year ago, many Arsenal fans were wondering why on earth the club had wasted £60m on Kai Havertz along with bringing David Raya to the club on loan when we already had Aaron Ramsdale. Yep, I was one of those fans who’d thought Mikel Arteta was bonkers for making those two decisions. However, I’ve long scoffed my rather large piece of humble pie.
Our outfield substitute options last year consisted of Reiss Nelson, Cedric Soares, Mo Elneny and Jakub Kiwior.
Fast forward again and we have a much stronger squad albeit with a few players missing. But we have Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Leandro Trossard, Mikel Merino, Thomas Partey, Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling – none of whom were involved last year for one reason or another. Hopefully Ben White and Gabriel are available too.
I hope we batter Newcastle at lunchtime today, I really do. I think it’ll be another feisty affair because as much as last seasons fixture is in the past, it’ll be in the players and managers minds. Arsenal players just need to make sure it’s they who keep their heads…
Catch up in the comments.
Good morning Rico.
Here’s the line up. Raya, Partey, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Saka, Rice,Merino, Martinelli, Havertz,Trossard
Team to play Newcastle:
Raya; Partey, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Rice, Merino, Trossard; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Subs: Neto, White, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Lewis-Skelly, Jorginho, Sterling, Nwaneri, Jesus
Morning Cicero, spooky…. Lol
Good preview rico, hope we smash them too, anything to forget last years game that’s still hard to forget. Time for subs Jesus and Sterling to step up, and Nwaneri of course, wouldn’t it be great if that is today.
Morning Andrew, thanks.
Newcastle have fast become one of the teams I dislike. Dirty lot!
Afternoon Rico and all.
It looks a pretty good starting lineup.
Morning Geoff. The only odd one is Partey at RB and White on the bench but I guess the latter is not 100%..
It’s interesting, but when Arteta plays Partey at the back, he’s basically playing 3 at the back as the game flows. So with Merino, Rice, Partey midfield – protecting Nwaneri – why not give him a start? With Odegaard out, our problem has been creativity and service to the forwards. Nwaneri is better at doing that than Trossard.
I read somewhere last week that Newcastle were struggling to keep within the PSR rules and would have to sell before buying in January. One of the players on the available list was Joe Willock, he has been seldom started games recently and spends a lot of time on the bench.
We’ve been linked with Isak, in the press, it will be interesting to see what he’s like. I was unimpressed against with him against Chelsea last week.
Sorry one too any “againsts” there. 😕
I think we all want to see more from Nwaneri but he is 17 years old, played a full game in the week and were away to Newcastle. Personally, I think it would be irresponsible of Mikel Arteta to start him today..
Lots could rest on the Joelinton / Partey position . Joelinton is a nasty cheating box of tricks and a consummate wind up merchant and Partey is sometimes liable to reaction . I hope we don’t finish with ten but you can be sure that a crowd full of whinging Geordies will be putting the ref under all sorts of pressure..
Reading around their fan sites and the atmosphere there will be at fever pitch , the bile being spouted is more than I have seen for a long time with the goal last season seemingly the catalyst for most of it.
Remember that lurking in the shadows is our old friend Gillett .
I just see trouble ahead.
If it comes down to pure football we should be OK but I fear that it will be taken over by last season’s fall out and I am not confident that Brooks will be able to keep control.
I think the Willock ship has sailed and they’d probably try and rip us off anyway. Isak is a hot and cold player who has a history of injuries. That said, if he was going really cheaply….. lol
Cicero @12:06, Isak.is very wasteful and overrated in my opinion I have watched him for awhile
He should definitely be better.
Just a reminder Rico, there was Jack and Cesc at 17. I’m just saying.
I know that Obi.
We can’t afford to give Gillet a chance to intervene Potter.
And we’re behind.,.
Not a good start. Already a goal down
How many times Saka fouled?
We look very shaky
Rice set pieces are a bit off so far..
What crap first half, Arteta looks very relaxed considering we are loosing
Well that half was terribly disappointing.
I would sub Partey now, bring on Ben White who will give far better support for Saka. Also, Trossard is neither a striker or a midfielder at the moment he could be the one to be replaced by Nwaner to bring some pace and guile in central midfield.
If White is fully fit then yep, get him on imo and toward is having a mare so I suspect he’ll do make way. Martinelli is lively but not really getting the better of his man.
Spot on Cicero,those two subs would be perfect,also I’m not sure if Partey is on a yellow card yet but it’s only a matter of time.
The commentators remarked that our body language is not good,in contrast to Newcastle.
I’m sure Arteta has given a big team talk,we need a much improved performance.
Come on lads
Whatever Arteta said at halftime it’s made no difference…
We need to change something, this is crap,
Not sure Jorginho will nick an equaliser for us 🤣
He won’t get a goal, but he’s picked up a yellow card.
Yep 😂
I think the Rice header sums us up. Really poor….
No striker, Out played, out coached, might be time for Stan to have a chat to Arteta no trophies this season
No goals, no clean sheet, no points.
And no chance of winning the league….
one word only ……..CUPS
We could be 8th by the end of this weekend
I could think of a few others Potter. 😜
Three consecutive games for the League without winning.
The two away games were a disaster.
Like the previous one, we don’t shoot at the goal.
This scenario repeats itself constantly without changing anything.
Jesus continues to add nothing; Tossard and Martinelli playing simultaneously, do not yield; Rice needs to be more “loose”; Saka is already too “squeezed”.
Don’t expect anything good. The 3 upcoming games in the Champions League are the most important and the most difficult to decide the final table.