Unai Emery is eyeing for a third win on the trot in the Premier League and expects a comprehensive performance from his team as Arsenal face Newcastle.
Arsenal have now beaten West Ham United and Cardiff City over successive weekends, after tasting defeats in their opening two games of the Premier League season. As for team selections during the first four games, Unai Emery has been tinkering with his squad to understand the right formula, and there is a feeling he has somewhat gotten hold of it after the Cardiff win.
Since Lucas Torreira came off the bench against Cardiff to lay the assist for Lacazette to win the game, there have been massive calls from everywhere for Emery to start the Uruguayan in future games, and these are about to be answered against Newcastle. Emery is likely to give Torreira a run alongside Granit Xhaka, which would mean Matteo Guendouzi who started all Arsenal games so far, will be on the bench.
Then there was the question of starting both Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the starting-XI, something Emery did against Cardiff to glowing success, as the Gabonese got on the scoresheet, while the Frenchman finished the game with an assist and the match-winning goal for his team. It mostly points towards Emery again starting both those players on the field.
On the striking duo, Emery was quoted as saying during the pre-game presser, “It’s the same. It’s a process to know the combination on the pitch, with different players but I need, and I want to start in the level, 11 players with good performances and also, we need in the balance of players, when the team needs to work on the pitch to help the team to find the win.”
“The reason is that I am pleased with the last two victories in the Premier League and also with the performances and I want to push every player to be okay to help the team if for one minute, 30 minutes or half-time or 90 minutes.”
Bernd Leno’s wait to start a game for Arsenal continues as the German is kept at bay by Petr Cech. The Veteran keeper is likely to start again, despite some stuttering moments against Cardiff. Hector Bellerin will play at right-back despite Stephan Lichtsteiner that he has a physicality of a 28-year-old. Nacho Monreal will continue at left-back for there are no other players to play in that position.
Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis will continue their budding partnership in the centre of defence and hope that they finally stop conceding goals for their side. Laurent Koscielny is pencilled in for a November return following his achilles injury, so until then the Greek and German will continue in the heart of Arsenal’s defence.
Matteo Guendouzi might be the player to make way for Lucas Torreira who might finally get his first start for the club. The Uruguayan is likely to be paired with Granit Xhaka in central midfield, as Emery will be playing two players in this position than opposed to three.
The attacking trio of Mesut Ozil on the right side, Aaron Ramsey in the No.10 role and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the left side of attack is likely to be present on the pitch. These three players will provide the ammunition for Alexandre Lacazette who will lead Arsenal’s line up front.
