Arsenal will be hoping that their big win over Manchester City will propel them to mount an almighty comeback against Newcastle as they look to turn over a two-goal deficit from the first-leg defeat at the Emirates Stadium. It comes in the aftermath of a disappointing transfer deadline day in which the Gunners failed to reinforce.
This therefore adds pressure to the team and existing players in the squad as they travel to Tyneside. That said, there is then a chance for a ten-day break in which the club plan for a warm-weather training camp in Dubai.
Before all that, though, Arteta needs to get a performance once again just four days after the win over Man City. With that in mind football.london gives their thoughts on who they would start on Wednesday night.
Tom Canton
This is a really tough pick, for two positions. The rest of the team effectively picks itself and when you have just beaten Manchester City 5-1, why would you change anything at all?
Well the gap is only four days and therefore that could factor in. That being said, there is then a ten-day chasm between the Newcastle clash and the next match which is a trip to Leicester.
For me, I would rotate in Riccardo Calafiori for Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri in for Gabriel Martinelli. Freshen up the team slightly and have some players in reserve to bring an impact from the bench.
Canton’s Arsenal XI vs Newcastle: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Nwaneri, Havertz, Trossard
Joe Doyle
There’s been a bit of talk about whether Mikel Arteta will perhaps rest some players for this game with his side 2-0 down after the first leg. But I just don’t see it happening. First of all, they’ve got Leicester next weekend, who are on an absolutely dreadful run of form; if there’s a fixture anywhere in the calendar to rotate, it’s probably there.
And secondly, say what you will about Micky Mouse trophies and all that nonsense – Arteta needs something to show for the last couple of years of effort. This Arsenal team have been too good to go five years without a trophy, they need something to build on and convince that they won’t just be a ‘nearly’ team. A Carabao Cup could give a huge boost for the last few months of the season.
With that in mind, David Raya starts. It’s a back four of Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Myles Lewis-Skelly.
In midfield, it’s going to be no messing about: Thomas Partey, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard. They dominated against Manchester City, and if they’re at their best they can certainly force the chances to get them into the final.
In attack, Kai Havertz starts up front. And it’s Gabriel Martinelli on the left with Leandro Trossard on the right.
Doyle’s Arsenal XI vs Newcastle: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Martinelli, Trossard, Havertz
Lee Wilmot
Arsenal have a week off given their exit from the FA Cup, so they should be going all out against Newcastle on Wednesday night.
It is a Newcastle side not in the best of form either, having lost two of their last three matches – both of those coming at St James’ Park too.
David Raya is the goalkeeper with a backline that does not need changing. It’s a team that pretty much picks itself from one to 11 in my view.
In midfield you have Declan Rice, Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard and then up front it’s Gabriel Martinelli on one side, Ethan Nwaneri on the other and Kai Havertz through the middle. The only other choice really is to play Leandro Trossard, but not for me.
Wilmot’s Arsenal XI vs Newcastle: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Nwaneri, Havertz, Martinelli.
