Mikel Arteta will see no reason to change the lineup ahead of the game between Arsenal and Newcastle United, but Emile Smith Rowe could make the bench.
Arsenal went seven points clear after winning away from home at Brighton & Hove Albion to finish 2022 on a high. The start of the new year brings new challenges, and the first four Premier League fixtures are as tough as possible. First on that list is Newcastle United, and Mikel Arteta will hope to continue the team’s momentum in that clash.
After the win over Brighton and going seven points clear, Arteta said this in his post-match press conference, “I don’t know; it’s still a long, long run to go. My excitement comes when I go in the dressing room and the players are talking about what they should’ve done better today. That means they know that we still can play better, be better and against Newcastle, we will have to be better.”
Arsenal vs Newcastle United Preview: Probable Lineups, Prediction, Tactics, Team News & Key Stats
Regarding team news, Arteta is unlikely to change the starting eleven. As there were no new injuries after the Brighton game and none reported in the build-up to the Newcastle clash, an unchanged lineup could be on the cards.
The only difference in the matchday squad could be the re-introduction of Emile Smith Rowe on the bench. The Englishman has been sidelined for over two months. The youngster has been training since last week, and Arteta had mentioned the progress made by the attacker.
Beyond that, Aaron Ramsdale will remain between the sticks. The back four of Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Oleksandr Zinchenko will line up ahead of him. Takehiro Tomiyasu, Rob Holding, Cedric Soares, and Kieran Tierney are all options from the bench.
Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka are the undisputed choices to hold midfield together. Martin Odegaard will play the advanced role ahead of the duo, but Arsenal usually convert into a three-man midfield as the game proceeds.
Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka, and Eddie Nketiah will keep their places after the trio scored in consecutive games. There isn’t much cover for the attacker from the bench. But if Smith Rowe makes it, then Arteta can look at substituting one of them in the latter stages of the match.
Predicted Arsenal XI: Ramsdale; Ben White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Xhaka; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Nketiah
