As usual the Arsenal squad is massively depleted due to injury problems and the suspension of Calum Chambers could hardly have come at a worse time for Arsene Wenger and the club, especially with today’s visitors to the Emirates stadium coming fresh off the back of a famous victory over Chelsea.
But Newcastle United have a shocking record against the Gunners, just like we have against last weekend’s tormentors Stoke City, so hopefully that will not change. Wenger has been forced to field yet another different back four, this time with the fit again Mathieu Debuchy coming in to partner Per Mertesacker in central defence. Let us hope the Frenchman adapts quicker than Nacho Monreal did.
We also have Aaron Ramsey joining Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta and Abou Diaby on the sidelines, decimating our central midfield, so Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gets a chance to shine in the position that Wenger reckons he will one day adopt.
Olivier Giroud strats through the middle but there is still plenty of pace in our front line with Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck on either side of the big Frenchman. And if we need a goal late on there is always the trusty left foot of the prince Lukas Podolski.
Szczesny
Bellerin, Debuchy, Mertesacker, Gibbs
Flamini, Chamberlain, Cazorla
Alexis, Giroud, Welbeck
subs: Martinez, Ajayi, Coquelin, Maitland-Niles, Campbell, Sanogo, Podolski