Mikel Arteta is set to go with a very predictable line up to face Newcastle United.
Mikel Arteta knows he now needs to start getting more wins under his belt, just the one victory in seven Premier League games since he took over is not really good enough.
The Spaniard has mixed the teams up a little but I suspect he will go with players that he feels he can trust the most and so it is not going to be too difficult to predict the sort of team he will go with today.
However, there are a couple of positions that are up for grabs starting in defence.
I fully expect him to go with David Luiz and Shkodran Mustafi in the centre of the defence in front of Bernd Leno. He could bring in Sokratis but I just do not see him doing that today.
On the right side he should start Hector Bellerin, I would be surprised if he does not. It is on the left side that we could see a change with him drafting in Sead Kolasinac over Bukayo Saka.
In the midfield, I do expect Lucas Torreira and Granit Xhaka to be reunited after the former was dropped in place of Matteo Guendouzi for the game against Burnley.
I would prefer that Dani Ceballos is started ahead of Mesut Ozil but I doubt that Arteta will do that and so the German is likely to start.
Same applies with Alexandre Lacazette upfront, I would bring in Nicolas Pepe but I am not sure that Arteta is convinced by the record signing.
Gabriel Martinelli should start and obviously Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is a guaranteed starter.
So, this is the starting eleven I expect that Mikel Arteta will go with today.
Leno
Kolasinac
Mustafi
Luiz
Bellerin
Torreira
Xhaka
Ozil
Martinelli
Aubameyang
Lacazette
Come on Sead 💪
Haven’t read a comment from Gotnoidea for days now feels kinda weird. Come on boys Ya! Gunners !Ya
l would like to see Pepe played instead of Martinelli, l’m not saying that he hasn’t got the quality because we’ve all seen that he has.
But I think we should always use our strongest players upfront, okay Lacazette has had a bit of a dry run not scoring since last December, but this could be exactly what he needs a team that’s there for the picking, and after coming back from the winter break Auba, Ozil, and everyone should be refreshed and ready to go so let’s hope we can get a bloody good job done today
Well, it seems a surprise selection then. Clearly MA believes in playing those kids who are impressing in training. Very surprised personally at Martinelli not starting though and we are now firmly in a new era. No Guendouzi either, even in the 18. I predict there will be plenty to discuss after the game, whether for good or ill. Reckon we can bank on THAT! But I trust MA AND WILL KEEP THE FAITH.
After 27 mins it is not working. Nketiakh invisible, little cohesion , no sharpness and losing possession. Got to imrove and fast or we are going to lose this game!
Half time and not good. Two total pssengers in Pepe andNketiah and I was longing to see both work FAR harder. Nketiah is no Martyinelli in workrate, thats for sure and Pepe is a luxury player. Ozil playing better today and our best player from a very modest bunch. We need a different second half or this site will be an angry one an hour from now. Martinelli should certainly start right from kick off.