Just when things seemed like they were clicking for Arsenal after consecutive 1-0 wins against West Brom and Southampton, the defeat at the Britannia sees Arsene Wenger scratching his head for answers as he seeks to motivate a confidence-deprived, injury stricken side into a potentially telling phase of the Premier League campaign. Jack Wilshere, Mesut Ozil, Mikel Arteta and Theo Walcott are just a few names on the treatment rooms in a period marred by injuries. Newcastle, on the other hand, are on a high after two Papiss Cisse goals sunk league leaders Chelsea at St. James Park last weekend.
Let’s take a look at the Gunners team which could line up against the Magpies in the late kickoff on Saturday.
Goalkeeper
Wojciech Szczesny
Young Emiliano Martinez kept a clean sheet against the Baggies and Southampton but the return of the Polish No.1 should give Arsene Wenger one less worry in his team selection. Szczesny is well and truly Arsenal’s first choice goalkeeper and is guaranteed to start this one.
Defence
Bellerin/Debuchy, Debuchy/Hayden, Mertesacker, Gibbs.
Mathieu Debuchy returns on time to face his former employers. Having started the match against Galatasaray on Tuesday, Debuchy would be raring to go again after his Arsenal career hit a wall with an early setback. With Nacho Monreal injured, Kieran Gibbs is the automatic and only option at left back. However, the problems lies at centre back for Arsene Wenger. The experienced Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny have been Arsenal’s bedrock in the last couple of seasons and line up at the heart of the back four.
The manager revealed the team news earlier today during, which he confirmed the news about Koscielny. The French defender is still suffering from a calf problem and is likely to miss the game, meaning the out of form Per Mertesacker will have to play alongside yet another new center back pairing (forth of the season so far).
This leaves Arsene Wenger to either call the likes of Isaac Hayden or Stefan O’Connor from the reserve team to feature against Pardew’s men or move Debuchy to the centre allowing Bellerin to start at right back.
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