Gabriel Starts, White Misses Out: Arsenal vs Newcastle Lineup
The Gunners are set to face Newcastle United in a crucial Premier League clash, and Mikel Arteta has made some key decisions regarding his starting lineup. While Gabriel Jesus remains sidelined, the return of Gabriel Magalhaes is a major boost for Arsenal's defense. However, William Saliba's injury means that Ben White will miss out, opening up a spot for the Brazilian center-back.
Here's a breakdown of the expected starting lineup for Arsenal against Newcastle:
Goalkeeper:
- Aaron Ramsdale: The England international remains the undisputed starter in goal for Arsenal and is expected to feature against Newcastle.
Defense:
- Gabriel Magalhaes: The Brazilian defender is back from injury and is expected to partner with Kieran Tierney at the heart of the defense.
- Kieran Tierney: Tierney has been in excellent form recently and will be a crucial presence on the left side of the defense.
- Takehiro Tomiyasu: The Japanese defender has established himself as a reliable option at right-back, and his defensive solidity will be vital against Newcastle's attacking threat.
- Oleksandr Zinchenko: The Ukrainian midfielder is versatile enough to operate as a left-back and will likely fill in for the injured Ben White.
Midfield:
- Granit Xhaka: The Swiss midfielder provides defensive stability and experience to the Arsenal midfield.
- Martin Ødegaard: The Norwegian captain will be looking to dictate the tempo of the game from the midfield and create scoring opportunities for his teammates.
- Thomas Partey: Partey's powerful presence in midfield is crucial for Arsenal's dominance in the middle of the park.
Attack:
- Bukayo Saka: The England winger is a key player for Arsenal and will be looking to exploit space on the right flank.
- Gabriel Martinelli: The Brazilian forward is known for his pace and dribbling ability and will be a constant threat to the Newcastle defense.
- Eddie Nketiah: With Jesus still out, Nketiah will lead the line for Arsenal and will be hoping to continue his strong form in front of goal.
Substitutes:
- Matt Turner (GK)
- Rob Holding (DF)
- Reiss Nelson (FW)
- Emile Smith Rowe (MF)
- Fabio Vieira (MF)
- Leandro Trossard (FW)
- Jorginho (MF)
Key Takeaways:
- The return of Gabriel Magalhaes is a major boost for Arsenal's defense, providing much-needed experience and leadership.
- The absence of Ben White opens up an opportunity for Zinchenko to showcase his versatility and potentially solidify his place in the starting lineup.
- Nketiah will be under pressure to perform well with Jesus still sidelined and will need to capitalize on the opportunity to impress.
This lineup suggests Arteta is prioritizing a balanced approach with strong defensive foundations and attacking potency to secure three points against Newcastle. However, injuries and unforeseen circumstances could always lead to changes, so it will be interesting to see how the game unfolds at the Emirates Stadium.