It's been a good long break for Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal side who spent some time in Dubai for a warm weather training camp. Prior to this, the players and staff kicked off the trip with a few days rest in the sun before getting down to work and training for the return of the Premier League, and a home clash with a resurgent Newcastle United.
What's critically important about the last few weeks is that Arteta has had a sustained full period of time to work with his players, and all bar Calum Chambers, it was a full squad. This time with the entire squad is vital for any Head Coach but to get it when the club so desperately need a real turn around...it could be massive. Instilling his ideas day after day without needing to worry about post-game rest days for some players and not others, injuries, illness or game prep, it was as training-focused as it ever could be. The trick now is to let the players do the talking and start turning these draws into wins.
Although he trained in Dubai Kieran Tierney remains out after shoulder surgery whilst longer term absentee Calum Chambers is sidelined until next season. New recruit Cedric is also out for a week or two more but he too trained in Dubai. Beyond that, it is all in and with new signing Pablo Mari now bedding in among the ranks, Arteta heads into Sunday's game with some real options. Sead Kolasinac and winger Reiss have both returned to fitness and are available for selection whilst Bukayo Saka's knock hasn't caused any lasting damage.
Could we see a back three? Could the fab four start together? Does the midfield shift to drop the out of form Ozil? Does Lacazette get a rest? There are so many questions that could be asked about Arteta's game line up, and whilst speculation has shown that options (and shapes) are a plenty, it isn't likely that Arteta will move away from the defensive four and central midfield pairing that has defended so well of late. He seemingly prefers the Xhakreira pivot more than any other option and is likely to go with it once again.
Attack and upfront are where the most questions lie as both Mesut Ozil and Alex Lacazette have been way below par of late. Joe Willock has been replacing Ozil in games a fair amount but hasn't really impressed anymore than we'd have expected. That leaves the forgotten man Dani Ceballos, who after thigh trouble, is now fully fit and keen to earn his spot and impress Arteta. Although his long term future may lie elsewhere, this is exactly the attitude us fans want to see from our players, and ironically, it is exactly the attitude that we wouldn't have seen under Unai Emery. Ceballos could be the man to come into midfield ahead of Xhaka and Torreira to make things happen. Being a slightly more orthodox midfielder compared to Ozil, this could also provide a better balance should the front three be top heavy (Aubameyang, Lacazette, Pepe / Martinelli, Aubameyang, Pepe).
Our visitors come to London just two places behind the Gunners and on level points in the table. It's been an up and down journey for Steve Bruce up in the North East so far this season and as a result, it is hard to predict which Newcastle will turn up. Arsenal beat the Magpies one nil at St James' Park last August via a second half Aubameyang strike but beyond that there wasn't much to shout about. Since, wins against Spurs and Sheffield away, United and Chelsea at home and a draw at home to Man City show that Newcastle are capable. But disappointing losses to teams like Aston Villa, Burnley and Norwich level them out as the definition of inconsistent. They're seemingly better against better sides though, something Arteta and his players will certainly by aware of. Steve Bruce comes into this one with new signing (and former Spud) Nabil Bentaleb fully available, with the only real midfield question mark over Jonjo Shelvey's fitness. In defence, Bruce is without Jetro Willems, Paul Dummett, Javier Manquillo and Emil Krafth but Matt Ritchie has returned. Upfront, there are minor doubts over all four first team attackers but all are likely to be available for selection come Sunday.
Expected line up:
GK: Bernd Leno
RB: Hector Bellerin
CB: Sokratis
CB: David Luiz
LB: Sead Kolasinac
CM: Granit Xhaka
CM: Lucas Torreira
CAM: Dani Ceballos
RW: Nicolas Pepe
ST: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
LW: Gabriel Martinelli
Prediction: 2-0 to the Gunners with Aubameyang finding his form in front of goal.
@craigbennett10
What's critically important about the last few weeks is that Arteta has had a sustained full period of time to work with his players, and all bar Calum Chambers, it was a full squad. This time with the entire squad is vital for any Head Coach but to get it when the club so desperately need a real turn around...it could be massive. Instilling his ideas day after day without needing to worry about post-game rest days for some players and not others, injuries, illness or game prep, it was as training-focused as it ever could be. The trick now is to let the players do the talking and start turning these draws into wins.
Although he trained in Dubai Kieran Tierney remains out after shoulder surgery whilst longer term absentee Calum Chambers is sidelined until next season. New recruit Cedric is also out for a week or two more but he too trained in Dubai. Beyond that, it is all in and with new signing Pablo Mari now bedding in among the ranks, Arteta heads into Sunday's game with some real options. Sead Kolasinac and winger Reiss have both returned to fitness and are available for selection whilst Bukayo Saka's knock hasn't caused any lasting damage.
Could we see a back three? Could the fab four start together? Does the midfield shift to drop the out of form Ozil? Does Lacazette get a rest? There are so many questions that could be asked about Arteta's game line up, and whilst speculation has shown that options (and shapes) are a plenty, it isn't likely that Arteta will move away from the defensive four and central midfield pairing that has defended so well of late. He seemingly prefers the Xhakreira pivot more than any other option and is likely to go with it once again.
Attack and upfront are where the most questions lie as both Mesut Ozil and Alex Lacazette have been way below par of late. Joe Willock has been replacing Ozil in games a fair amount but hasn't really impressed anymore than we'd have expected. That leaves the forgotten man Dani Ceballos, who after thigh trouble, is now fully fit and keen to earn his spot and impress Arteta. Although his long term future may lie elsewhere, this is exactly the attitude us fans want to see from our players, and ironically, it is exactly the attitude that we wouldn't have seen under Unai Emery. Ceballos could be the man to come into midfield ahead of Xhaka and Torreira to make things happen. Being a slightly more orthodox midfielder compared to Ozil, this could also provide a better balance should the front three be top heavy (Aubameyang, Lacazette, Pepe / Martinelli, Aubameyang, Pepe).
Our visitors come to London just two places behind the Gunners and on level points in the table. It's been an up and down journey for Steve Bruce up in the North East so far this season and as a result, it is hard to predict which Newcastle will turn up. Arsenal beat the Magpies one nil at St James' Park last August via a second half Aubameyang strike but beyond that there wasn't much to shout about. Since, wins against Spurs and Sheffield away, United and Chelsea at home and a draw at home to Man City show that Newcastle are capable. But disappointing losses to teams like Aston Villa, Burnley and Norwich level them out as the definition of inconsistent. They're seemingly better against better sides though, something Arteta and his players will certainly by aware of. Steve Bruce comes into this one with new signing (and former Spud) Nabil Bentaleb fully available, with the only real midfield question mark over Jonjo Shelvey's fitness. In defence, Bruce is without Jetro Willems, Paul Dummett, Javier Manquillo and Emil Krafth but Matt Ritchie has returned. Upfront, there are minor doubts over all four first team attackers but all are likely to be available for selection come Sunday.
Expected line up:
GK: Bernd Leno
RB: Hector Bellerin
CB: Sokratis
CB: David Luiz
LB: Sead Kolasinac
CM: Granit Xhaka
CM: Lucas Torreira
CAM: Dani Ceballos
RW: Nicolas Pepe
ST: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
LW: Gabriel Martinelli
Prediction: 2-0 to the Gunners with Aubameyang finding his form in front of goal.
@craigbennett10
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