Eddie Howe is weighing up changes for Newcastle United's Premier League match against Arsenal tonight
Nick Pope of Newcastle United celebrates with Dan Burn after saving Ousmane Dembele's penalty
Nick Pope of Newcastle United celebrates with Dan Burn(Image: Getty Images)
View Image
For a side struggling for form and confidence, a trp to the Emirates to face title-hopefuls Arsenal isn't exactly top of the wishlist. But that's exactly what Eddie Howe and Co must take on this evening as they look to somehow rekindle their faint European hopes.
Howe must make at least one change to his starting line up, with Tino Livramento ruled out through injury, while Anthony Gordon remains sidelined, but he could make several more after last week's disappointment at home to Bournemouth.
The good news is that captain Bruno Guimaraes came through his cameo last weekend and a full week of training, and could return to the starting XI at the Emirates.
Very few others are assured of their place, however, with the likes of Dan Burn, Kieran Trippier, Nick Woltemade, Jacob Murphy and Yoane Wissa pushing for a start.
Here are the starting XIs our team of NUFC writers would send out tonight, and your chance to pick your side.
*Get Chronicle Premium now for just £1*HERE– exclusive news and features, our NUFC and Academy notebooks, John Gibson's columns plus an ad-lite experience****
Lee Ryder
Newcastle United need to do something drastic to bring their poor run of form to a halt in the capital against Arsenal.
With five games to go, Eddie Howe does not know what his strongest team is and has warned he does not make his selection based on transfer fees. But that's exactly what I'd be doing in this clash because make no doubt about Arsenal will be doing it.
It starts with restoring Nick Woltemade to the attack and I'd play Yoane Wissa either side of him with Harvey Barnes probably the best bet to make up the front three.
Lewis Miley, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes must start in midfield to soak up any Arsenal pressure - and there will be plenty.
At the back I'm bringing back Dan Burn instead of Sven Botman with Kieran Trippier and Lewis Hall as full-backs.
Perhaps the time has come for Nick Pope to be back between the posts too.
My NUFC XI: Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Burn, Hall, Miley, Bruno, Tonali, Wissa, Barnes, Woltemade
Sean McCormick
Newcastle tasted success against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-finals last season by going with three centre-halves and it wouldn't surprise me if Eddie Howe goes that way again.
I would set up in a hybrid 3-4-3 in possession and 5-4-1 out of possession system which would see the experience of Dan Burn coming back into the side alongside Malick Thiaw and Sven Botman.
I feel like the experience of Kieran Trippier coming back into the side will be vital at right-wing-back with Lewis Hall occupying the left-wing-back position.
If Bruno Guimaraes is fit enough to start he simply has to alongside Sandro Tonali in midfield. Anthony Elanga struggled last weekend but his pace could hurt Arsenal on the break. Joe Willock had great success starting in the same system against PSG on the left-wing so I would mimic that at the Emirates Stadium.
Up front I would start with Nick Woltemade. Will Osula has scored two goals in two games but he isn't the long term answer and I am far from convinced by him as a forward.
The other big call I would make is in goal. Nick Pope has made mistakes but he simply saves more shots than Aaron Ramsdale does. Ramsdale won't be here next season but there is a chance Pope is, even as a number two to a new arrival. It feels counter-productive to continue with Ramsdale in goal with all those things considered.
My NUFC XI: Pope; Thiaw, Botman, Burn; Trippier, Guimaraes, Tonali, Hall; Elanga, Willock; Woltemade
Ross Gregory
Something needs to change for Newcastle and it's not just personnel for me. I'd be looking at adopting the 3-4-3 formation for this game - one that United have used before to good effect, and one they are comfortable with.
Trying to mirror as much as possible the team that started against PSG, I'd go with Lewis Miley as a right wing-back and pair Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali together in midfield, with Jacob Ramsey supporting them from a hybrid role on the left - similar to the one Joe Willock played in Paris.
Then up front, it's Nick Woltemade leading the line for me. I appreciate what Will Osula has done in recent games but Newcastle will need someone to link the play up. Anthony Elanga's pace on the counter could be useful in this game.
Oh . . . and Nick Pope returns in goal. Aaron Ramsdale is highly unlikely to be here next season so why play a loanee, unless he's a huge improvement. Which Ramsdale isn't.
My NUFC XI: Pope; Thiaw, Botman, Burn; Miley, Bruno, Tonali, Hall; Elanga; Ramsey; Woltemade
Stuart Jamieson
Something has to change, but Newcastle will need experience at the Emirates. That means a recall for Dan Burn for the out-of-sorts Sven Botman, with Kieran Trippier in at right-back. If Burno's fit then he starts, and can hopefully help Sandro Tonali rediscover his form.
Up top, Harvey Barnes keeps his place by default, but in the absence of anything else that's working, why not try Yoane Wissa on the right flank, with Nick Woltemade as a No 9.
I know Will Osula has scored in his last two, but surely Howe doesn't really think he's the solution? He's much better coming on in the latter stages if the game is stretched and exploiting space.
Let's see Nick Pope back between the sticks too. Aaron Ramsdale may not make the big mistakes but I feel United are better with their No 1.
My NUFC XI: Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Burn, Hall, Tonali, Guimaraes, Miley, Wissa, Barnes, Woltemade
Pick your NUFC XI
With Tino Livramento out, Howe will have to make at least one change, but how many more would make tonight? Pick your United XI from the squad below.