Arsenal welcome Newcastle United to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon, hoping to earn their first win in five games.
Since being eliminated from the Champions League semi-final by Paris Saint-Germain, it has been somewhat of a downturn for the Gunners. They did show character to come from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 against newly-crowned Premier League champions Liverpool at Anfield last weekend.
Mikel Arteta’s side will be hoping to end the season on a high, and a win over Newcastle on Sunday would virtually assure them a second spot in the table.
Arsenal Team News
Mikel Merino is suspended for the game after being shown two yellow cards against Liverpool at Anfield. Jorginho, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Magalhaes are out. But Kai Havertz, Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard are trying their best to recover from hamstring issues, having trained in midweek.
Havertz was initially expected to miss the rest of the season but there is a possibility of him featuring for the Gunners in the last two games.
Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Newcastle United (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper
David Raya must step up and produce the goods when required to keep a clean sheet against a strong Newcastle side.
Defence
One change could happen in the Arsenal defence. Jurrien Timber, William Saliba and Jakub Kiwior pick themselves up for this game. Riccardo Calafiori may come in to replace academy starlet Myles Lewis-Skelly at left-back.
The Arsenal backline must be switched on from minute one until the final blow of the whistle to keep a fiery Newcastle at bay.
Midfield
Calafiori, starting at left-back, could see Arteta use Lewis-Skelly in midfield. There is the option of going with Oleksandr Zinchenko, but Lewis-Skelly could get the nod ahead of him.
The youngster, if picked, will join Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard in the Arsenal engine room. The experienced midfielders must take control of the game and disrupt Newcastle’s rhythm. Rice and Havertz, if passed fit, would be options to come off the bench when required.
Attack
With Merino suspended and Trossard unlikely to start, Arteta is expected to go with Gabriel Martinelli in the No.9 role after his improved display in the second half against Liverpool.
Bukayo Saka will have to shift on the left flank to accommodate fellow Arsenal academy talent Ethan Nwaneri, although Raheem Sterling also remains an option to operate off the right flank.
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