For the first time in 2023, Arsenal will be in Premier League action as they welcome Newcastle United to the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.
Despite a six-week break whilst the World Cup was taking place in Qatar as well as losing Gabriel Jesus to a knee injury, the Gunners are still riding a wave of momentum after recording back-to-back wins over West Ham United and Brighton & Hove Albion to close out 2022 and open up a seven-point lead at the top of the table.
Now the target is to continue this form into the new year. A difficult test awaits Arsenal as Newcastle have only lost once in the league this season - away at Liverpool back in August - and boast the best defensive record across the entire division with just 11 goals conceded.
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As this is the north London outfit's second fixture in the space of three days, Mikel Arteta may look to make full use of his squad. Although, it should be noted that his side will have a six-day break before facing Oxford United in the third-round of this season's FA Cup.
Whilst the Arsenal manager can't call upon Jesus or Reiss Nelson against the Magpies, he still has plenty of options at his disposal and the game could mark the return of Emile Smith Rowe after he was involved in full training prior to the Brighton clash and is expected to be available for selection very soon.
Once again, football.london's Arsenal writers Kaya Kaynak and Tashan Deniran-Alleyne as well as Arsenal Content Editor Sam Truelove are on hand to offer their assistance to the Spanish tactician. Below, they take a look at who they think should be starting for the home side against Newcastle.
Kaya Kaynak - Arsenal Writer
As the condensed festive period and the World Cup break take their toll it was clear that Arsenal tired towards the end of their match with Brighton. Despite that though, I still wouldn’t look to make too many changes. Newcastle is a huge game and with Oxford coming up, Mikel Arteta can rest some of his first teamers then.
With that in mind Aaron Ramsdale starts again, and despite his rickety post-World Cup form, I’d keep William Saliba in alongside the impressively solid Gabriel. I think we really saw the influence Alex Zinchenko and Ben White have on this side when they went off against Brighton, so I would start both of them ahead of Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu.
The midfield mostly picks itself and Thomas Partey will be looking to continue his quietly impressive run of form recently alongside Granit Xhaka. Martin Odegaard meanwhile is, for me, the best player in the Premier League right now, so he has to start.
Up front the continuation of injuries mean that the number of changes you could make is severely limited. That means Bukayo Saka, Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Martinelli will all get a chance to make it three in three. I do think if Emile Smith Rowe is fit then he should be on the bench though, for what could be a heroic return in such a crucial match.
Kaynak's Arsenal XI vs Newcastle: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli
Tashan Deniran-Alleyne - Arsenal Writer
With six days until the FA Cup tie against Oxford United, I don't think Mikel Arteta needs to hold back with his team selection for the visit of Newcastle United. The fact Ben White, Thomas Partey and Oleksandr Zinchenko were all substituted fairly early at the weekend, indicates one eye was on this game.
Of course, the Arsenal manager has two relatively big decisions to make. William Saliba and Bukayo Saka are both on four yellow cards, if either - or both - are booked on Tuesday then they will miss the North London Derby against Tottenham Hotspur on January 15. So does Arteta risk the pair or leave them on the bench?
For me, with the incentive of going 10 points clear at the top of the table - albeit temporarily as Man City face Chelsea later in the week - both must start. They just have to watch their step and in fairness to Saliba, he has been walking the disciplinary tight-rope since October so he is used to this pressure.
This means I would go with an unchanged team from the Brighton win, but I would opt for a slight change in the matchday squad. If Emile Smith Rowe is available for selection then he can be recalled to the substitutes bench in place of £3m summer signing Marquinhos.
Deniran-Alleyne's Arsenal XI vs Newcastle: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Odegaard, Xhaka; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli
Sam Truelove - Arsenal Content Editor
Arsenal could go 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League with a win against Newcastle. The psychological impact that could have on the title race should not be underestimated.
Mikel Arteta will know this and won’t want to make too many changes from Saturday’s emphatic 4-2 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion. One of the changes the Spaniard could make is at left-back, however.
Oleksandr Zinchenko oozed class for 60 minutes on Saturday before being replaced by Kieran Tierney. The former Manchester City defender is clearly Arteta’s first-choice left-back but he has had his injury problems. Tierney has shown he is an able deputy and could come in from the start at Emirates Stadium. The Scot’s pace could help nullify the threat from in-form Newcastle winger Almiron, too.
The rest of the back line picks itself at the moment, although William Saliba hasn’t looked his usual self since coming back from France World Cup duty. The centre-back and Bukayo Saka will also need to be careful they don’t pick up a yellow card as they are both one booking away from a one-match ban.
Truelove's Arsenal XI vs Newcastle: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tierney; Partey, Odegaard, Xhaka; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli
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