please log in to view this image Venue: St. James Park Date: Saturday 2nd November 2024 KO time: 12:30 GMT Overall Record Wins: 85 Losses: 69 Draws: 39 Last six meetings Arsenal 4-1 Newcastle United Newcastle United 1-0 Arsenal Newcastle United 0-2 Arsenal Arsenal 0-0 Newcastle United Newcastle United 2-0 Arsenal Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle United please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
Some positive news ahead of the Newcastle trip: Gabriel was in contention to join the squad against Preston, but he was rested instead. Which suggests his injury isn't as bad as first feared. Odegaard has an outside chance of making the Newcastle game, but is more likely to feature in the squad for the Inter Milan match.
Good to have Gabriel and Saliba back for this game. Would like to see Ben White at RB and Partey back in MF (although he was really good at RB) Having Odegaard in contention is a big plus, but it sounds as though it could be a bit early for him We need to be winning this game if we're going to keep up with Pool and city
Based on Arteta's presser earlier, seems like Odegaard won't be making this one. Calafiori and Tomiyasu not due back until after the international break. But Gabriel is in contention to start, which is a major boost. White is 50-50 to be ready.
I would be surprised if Odegaard played. Maybe on the bench. Good news to see him close to fitness, though.
This seems like a pivotal game. Anything but a win is a problem. I think we’ll struggle to make up a 7 to 8 pt deficit on City and being that far behind may well kill our confidence.
Yeah, I think so too. If we don't get a win here, I think title charge is over and we need to focus on going as far as we can in the cups. And whilst I want us to desperately win the league or CL, we can't be leaving this season empty handed either IMO. Going 5 years without a trophy, considering how good our team is right now, would be very poor.
Starting XI leaked for the game early: Raya, Partey, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Rice, Merino, Trossard, Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
It is a must win if we're going to stay in intention for the league this year. And I agree that 5 years without a trophy with this team is a poor return. That said, this team is still at the beginning of it's journey, I think the average age is something like 23 or 24, so they are still to peak. But with the fine margins in football when you're up against the likes of City, there is just no room for error. I was pleased to see us put out a strong side against Preston in midweek, because the league cup is something we should be going all out to win too. And being in the QF it gives this team a really good chance of a trophy this year.
No Ben White then Partey did really well against Liverpool at RB so I'm not too worried about that. He's also got a defence splitting pass on him like Ben White has, so that's a plus. Also been really impressed with Merino in MF. He reminds me a bit of Edu
Partey did do well at RB against Liverpool, but in general, I'm not a huge fan of him playing there, especially as he's been so crucial for us in midfield. We do miss him there. And in a game that will be as hostile as St. James Park, it's going to be a different type of test altogether. Trossard in the CAM role today...I've made my views on this clear, I really don't think he's effective there. But it is what it is. This is the bench btw: Neto, White, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Lewis-Skelly, Jorginho, Sterling, Nwaneri, Jesus Decent bench.
Yeah Partey definitely better in MF. I'd have been tempted to put Timber at RB and either Zinchenko or Kiwoir at LB. Trossard definitely better on the left, I suppose you could start Nwaneri at CAM but it's a big role to fill. We badly need Odegaard back.
1-0 Newcastle. Isak. Slightly against the run of play, but that was an unreal cross by Gordon, to be fair. Gabriel and Saliba probably could have communicated better there. Annoying. But at least it's early on in the game, plenty of time to turn it around.
24 mins in and we are getting cooked since they've scored. Gordon is absolutely battering us in transition. This hasn't been good enough so far.
Ahh, we've just had a shot blocked off the line. Merino's shot was blocked by Lewis Hall I think. Unfortunate.
We need to move the ball faster and occupy their defenders better. Schar and Burn haven't had too much to do. We're taking too many touches of the ball.
Why is Havertz dropping that deep to get the ball? He's our centre forward and he's not leading the line at all. We have absolutely no outlet.
Honestly, how much clearer does it need to be that Nwaneri needs to be starting? The solution is staring Arteta right in the face and he's not going to play him until it's too late.
