Arsenal face Newcastle at the Emirates today and Arsene Wenger will be expecting to get back to winning ways after losing their 12-game winning home run to Man United last time out. We are yet to win any League game in December so to return to our home ground will be a relief as our away form has been diabolical this season.
So let us look at Arsenal’s recent home games..
In fact before the United game you would have to go back to January to see our last home defeat so we should be definitely confident of getting back to winning ways, Wenger is looking at the positives. “We have been absolutely very strong at home and I think it’s the basis, the foundation of a good season. We want to continue that. That’s why, despite the fact that we were disappointed that we couldn’t win at Southampton or West Ham, at least we haven’t lost. If we can transform our home games into wins, that will not be too bad.”
Now let’s look at Newcastle’s away form…
Rafael Benitez’s side have only won one away game this year, at Swansea three months ago, and their confidence seems to have ebbed away. They are dropping rapidly into the relegation zone with just one point gained from their last 8 games but their luck must change at some point, but not today!
If you looked at chances created, Arsenal should have won their last three games, and Wenger wants to see improvement on that front today, although he expects Newcastle to park the bus as most teams do against Arsenal. “We have to continue to do what we do but we have to do it quicker and better,” Le Prof said. “That means providing our game with more pace, with more penetrating runs, by getting deeper behind the defenders. That’s the target.
“Newcastle are going through a difficult period at the moment so they will first of all try to defend well. It’s down to us. I believe we have to focus, first of all, to continue to keep clean sheets, and as well at home we know we can create chances and that’s what we want to continue to do.”
Our goalscoring record is miles better at home and I’m hoping to see a lot more today, but who will Wenger put on the field? Le Prof has promised a little more rotation, so I am expecting Alexandre Lacazette and Saed Kolasinac to return to the side after being rested on Wednesday. Ramsey and Walcott are definitely out and I don’t think the boss will risk Mustafi coming back too soon. As we are looking for goals I think Wenger will stick with the 4-3-3 he used in midweek, and I’m hoping that Chambers will replace Laurent Koscielny as centre-back as our captain looks in desperate need of a rest, and I am begging for Coquelin to play alongside Wilshere with Xhaka on the bench.
So here is my predicted line-up…
Cech
Bellerin Chambers Monreal Kolasinac
Iwobi Coquelin Wilshere
Ozil Lacazette Sanchez
That side should have more than enough to cope with Newcastle, but it is imperative that we don’t make any defensive mistakes and an early goal would be nice to settle the nerves. Although Newcastle rarely win an away game, they usually do score, so my score prediction is going to be 3-1 to the Arsenal…
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I liked in our last game that the balance looked better. Agree with D Murphy that Jack gave it a better balance. What I didn’t like was Jack saying after the game that he takes the blame for dropped points because of that effort he skewed. Fair enough only at the same time he says it was on his wrong foot, it all happened too quick, and the ball sat up high. So he gives three excuses but then man enough to say I’ll take responsibility.
I don’t think Jack will play twice in one week. He will play on Tuesday against West Ham again. Maybe our reserves can beat them!
Who are you guys backing for captain pick in fpl in gameweek 18.?
lacazette or hazard or salah
If Arsenal don’t win today then Wenger may as well start packing his bags! But I just can’t see anything less than an easy win for us. 3-0 I reckon.
Newcastle are rubbish and are going straight back down. We need a big score ahead of Liverpool next week so I am going for 5-0
In my opinion, Newcastle are heading for probable relegation and their club, rather than merely the team, is a total basket case, like ours, but we have better players, though they have the better manager. A comfortable win is therefore likely today but that will change nothing fundamental for us. The Newcastles of this world are not the problem, at least at home, but the lack of spine, determination and general motivation of our side is a long term problem , caused entirely by Wenger and while he remains, that will not change. There are lots of sensible comments by Gooners on various threads but only those which actively call for Wengers sacking are worth reading and actually helpful in increasing the pressure on the club to act and sack him. Yes we all know the owner and board are also poison, BUT even with that handicap, a proper manager who can instill fight, endeavour, shape and who actually coaches and studies opponents weaknesses and strengths will make a huge positive difference. We all know we need a clearout of the forest of deadwood and idlers who cost huge wages but contribute nothing or extremely little. But first we need a positive, pro-active , non -dithering man in charge to implement that. Wengers long journey from club hero and saviour to a hate and figure of fun man is desperately sad. But speaking personally, I feel we have already had about ten years to get used to that awful change from light into gloom and we should waste no more of our own lives uselessly hoping the man will ever change. He won’t, as we all barring a few sad , pitiable souls know full well. The recovery starts the day we have a new manager and our duty is to hasten that day by constant social media pressure to sack him. An empty ground would of course be the most effective measure of all.
I think Wenger will use the same formation (4-1-2-2-1) and similar players, except the attackers and the fullbacks:
Cech
Debuchy Koscielny Monreal Kolasinac
Xhaka
Wilshere Ozil
Sanchez Welbeck
Lacazette
1:0 or 1:1
Release Mert
Sell Alexis,Khaka,Walcott
Cech
Bellerin. Koschielny. Montreal Kolacinac
Mustafi. Wilshere
Ozil. Lacazette. Sanchez
Giroud