Arsenal will be hoping that their big win over Manchester City will propel them to mount an almighty comeback against Newcastle as they look to turn over a two-goal deficit from the first-leg defeat at the Emirates Stadium. It comes in the aftermath of a disappointing transfer deadline day in which the Gunners failed to reinforce.
This therefore adds pressure to the team and existing players in the squad as they travel to Tyneside. That said, there is then a chance for a ten-day break in which the club plan for a warm-weather training camp in Dubai.
Before all that, though, Arteta needs to get a performance once again just four days after the win over Man City.
Tom Canton
This is a really tough pick, for two positions. The rest of the team effectively picks itself and when you have just beaten Manchester City 5-1, why would you change anything at all?
Well the gap is only four days and therefore that could factor in. That being said, there is then a ten-day chasm between the Newcastle clash and the next match which is a trip to Leicester.
For me, I would rotate in Riccardo Calafiori for Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri in for Gabriel Martinelli. Freshen up the team slightly and have some players in reserve to bring an impact from the bench.
Canton’s Arsenal XI vs Newcastle: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Nwaneri, Havertz, Trossard
