Arsenal needs to find some consistency. We talk about depth in the team, and we do have it, but we haven’t been able to exploit it to its full potential yet, in my opinion.
The defeat to West Ham saw sweeping changes, and perhaps there should be some examination of how Pep Guardiola rotates his squad with little alterations to the strong line-up. Despite being one goal behind the Premier League goal total at the same point last season, Arsenal’s performance this season has raised eyebrows.
The Premier League requires consistency in team selection, which is, of course, impacted by availability. With Gabriel Jesus and Thomas Partey out for the foreseeable future, perhaps now is the time to establish a stable starting lineup that, barring additional injuries, can continue to play together with the occasional move.
With the game against Newcastle being so important, there is pressure to get it right from the start. As a result, football. london considers Mikel Arteta’s dream team for the meeting on Tyneside.
David Raya of course starts in goal with little talk of the position’s controversy after Aaron Ramsdale conceded three goals in midweek. He didn’t perform badly but didn’t do enough to consider a switch at the Premier League level yet and scrutinising eyes will be on the Spaniard still for sure.
In defence, the typical starters of Ben White, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes will of course all come back into the team. The defensive record of the Gunners has again been very solid, keeping clean sheets on the road on four occasions already this season, plus one at home to Manchester City of course.
With the opponents being Newcastle but also thanks to his brilliant form in October, Takehiro Tomiyasu has become the standout choice at left-back. Oleksandr Zinchenko meanwhile has struggled somewhat defensively, with teams targeting the gap behind the Ukrainian.
Into midfield and this is where I’d call for some consistency in the certain absence of Thomas Partey over the next few weeks. If Kai Havertz’s future is to be Granit Xhaka’s replacement then he needs to play there and successively.
Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard will be back into the side to support him and we can hope to see some strong performances. The skipper’s goal in midweek was perhaps a reminder of what people have been missing.
Up top Eddie Nketiah will hope to continue his excellent run when starting Premier League matches. It will be his 100th appearance in the competition and of course will be flanked by Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.
Dream Arsenal XI vs Newcastle United: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu; Rice, Havertz, Odegaard; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli