Arsenal make the long-trip north to take on Newcastle at St James’s Park this afternoon, and could be without up to two players.
The only confirmed absentee is Alexandre Lacazette. The striker limped off against Fulham mid-way through April, and has been sidelined since. Arsenal.com insists that he is responding well to treatment, and that he and the team are working hard for a return on Thursday however.
Kieran Tierney’s participation is yet to be announced either. The defender has been missing for four weeks with a knee injury, but has been integrating back into training this week. The official report claims he will be assessed further before a decision is made on his availability.
David Luiz returned to the playing squad on Thursday for the Europa League, but remained on the bench throughout, and he could make his first appearance since taking on West Ham at the end of March.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is also expected to feature, although I struggle to believe that he back to 100% after his Malaria scare.
Predicted XI:
Ryan
Bellerin Luiz Gabriel Tierney
Ceballos Elneny
Willian Odegaard Martinelli
Aubameyang
I feel like Arteta will want as fresh a team as possible going into Thursday night’s Europa League semi-final, but he also has the problem with wanting the likes of Aubameyang, Luiz and Tierney to get some match sharpness after they all missed a number of weeks of action.
Should all three be ready to start, I would expect one or two of those to come off after 60 minutes of play, or less if tiredness began to show.
Who would you expect Arteta to pick to start today? Is there any youngsters that should be in contention?
Patrick
Key players must be rested for Thursday night..
Saka Partey Xhaka Pepe ESR Lacazette probably won’t play at all.
Tierney Odegaard Aubameyang and Luiz if available may need match fitness so may play some minutes.
Martinelli will probably play and Balogun may get a sub spot.
But avoiding injuries to key players is the most important factor.
My predicted line up.
Ryan
Bellerin Luiz Gabriel Tierney
Chambers Elneny
Nelson Odegaard Martinelli
Aubameyang
Subs used
Cedric Balogun Ceballos
We can’t win without Saka and ESR
They should play after all our next game is next Thursday
These constant reshuffling and playing Willian, Elneny and Co are the cause of our predicament
I don’t want to see shirt number 8 (ceballos) in our squard and saka remains the future for arsenal
I’m expecting Balogun to start up front today and think Cedric will be at left back.
why! cebalos is good!
I dont ever want to see that stupid ceballos in my beloved arsenal team shirt anymore and arteta should try to rest our key players today because of the biggest game of the season on thursday and he should not try his gambling line-up today
# and we want kronke out#
Echoing the sentiment. Ceballos should never play for the team again. If he’s picked what does it say to the other players that play in that position.
Up up laca 9
While I can’t give orders to the Gunners gaffer Mikel Arteta on which Gunners he should start for Arsenal match away to Newcastle today un the PL. Or the Gunners he should play as subs in the match. But at least as a Gooner for life that I am, I can offer him my advice to take it or leave it,
in this wise and to me, Arsenal away match today’s afternoon to Newcastle in the PL is a very important match for Arsenal to win it. For, Arsenal chance to play Europa League football next season should be kept alive by the Gunners who should win this match against the Magpies at St James’s park today.
But even as Arsenal are chasing to play in the UCL next season through their winning the ELC this season, that shouldn’t make Arsenal to put all their eggs in one basket. But keep some safer to use them later by not allowing their chance to play Europa League football next season through the PL top-six or top-seven place finish this season to fissuleout unnecessarily to die this season.
But the Gunners should take the burden on themselves to keep the chance alive by seeing that Arsenal play in the ELC next season. And execute the burden that is them for Arsenal successfully to the letter by beating the Magpies today and continue beating the remaining 4 clubs left for they play against this season.
Playing to a draw in the match against the Magpies by the Gunners today will not be good enough. Talkless of them to lose the match which if they do will be terrible.
So therefore, let us all hope to see Arteta makes a match winning Arsenal team to play Newcastle at away today’s afternoon.
While I can’t give orders to the Gunners gaffer Mikel Arteta on which Gunners he should start for Arsenal match away to Newcastle today in the PL. Or the Gunners he should play as subs in the match. But at least as a Gooner for life that I am, I can offer him my advice to take it or leave it,
in this wise and to me, Arsenal away match today’s afternoon to Newcastle in the PL is a very important match for Arsenal to win it. For, Arsenal chance to play Europa League football next season should be kept alive by the Gunners who should win their match against the Magpies at St James’s park today.
But even as Arsenal are chasing to play in the UCL next season through their winning the ELC this season, that shouldn’t make Arsenal to put all their eggs in one basket. But keep some safer to use them later by not allowing their chance to play Europa League football next season through the PL top-six or top-seven place finish this season to fissuleout unnecessarily to die this season.
But the Gunners should take the burden on themselves to keep the chance alive by seeing that Arsenal play in the ELC next season. And execute the burden that is on them for Arsenal successfully to the letter by beating the Magpies today and continue beating the remaining 4 clubs left for them this season to play against.
Playing to a draw in the match against the Magpies by the Gunners today will not be good enough. Talkless of them to lose the match which if they do will be terrible.
So therefore, let us all hope to see Arteta makes a match winning Arsenal team to play Newcastle at away today’s afternoon.