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Three key Player Selection Dilemmas For Mikel Arteta Ahead of Newcastle Game

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal

Gunners will host Newcastle United this Saturday afternoon. Arsenal has a decent home record this season. They have collected 13 out of possible 18 points at home with only defeat to Chelsea. Arsenal will be looking for win against Magpies in upcoming fixture. Arteta will face some player selection dilemma for perfect combinations.

Arsenal has their 10 games unbeaten run snapped after a defeat against Liverpool. Liverpool was dominant in the game and Arsenal could have only 37% possession in 90 mins. Newcastle on the other hand is looking for their 1st win of the season. Eddie Howe had a thrilling and entertaining 1st game as Newcastle manager but could secure a 3-3 draw against newly-promoted Brentford.

Arsenal vs Newcastle, player selection,
Image obtained via chroniclelive.com

Newcastle this season is a struggling team in terms of form, defensive lapses, and a new managerial system yet to be incorporated properly for the players. Arsenal will be pleased to face such a troubled team as they will be looking to get back on winning ways before traveling to Old Trafford and Everton.

Looking at Newcastle’s recent formation and Eddie Howe’s defensive approach, 5-3-2 will be the preferred lineup for the Magpies. Arsenal, eager to win shall be fielding an attacking lineup to maximize chances of goals. To maintain the balance between defense and offense Arteta will have some key player selection dilemmas in choosing his starting XI against Newcastle.  

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3 key player selection dilemmas for Arteta against Newcastle 

Holding Player Selection:

Arsenal will resume their possession-based football against Newcastle. So players with good ball control and the ability to win possession from the opposition will be in starting 11. But the team needs to be more aggressive and play more in the opposition half. Mohamed Elneny, Albert Sambi Lokonga, and Ainsley Maitland-Niles will be fighting for a place to partner Thomas Partey.

Lokonga has been more regular under Arteta, but Maitland-Niles will be in starting 11, to give him some game time and have an option for future matches.

Maitland-Niles
Image obtained via goal.com

Attacking Midfield Player Selection:

Arsenal started with Lacazette ahead of Odegaard and Martinelli against Liverpool. Arteta will be looking for a more creative AM, who will provide goals as well as goal chances to the striker. Martinelli has played only 160 mins of match day football this season and needs a bit of improvement in finishing. Odegaard has started 6 games out of a possible 10 for Arsenal and might get nod ahead of Lacazette.

Martin Odegaard, Arsenal
Image obtained via premierleague.com

Left-back Player selection:

Arteta has many options at the left-back position where he can experiment for this match. Tavares, Keiran Tierney will be leading the race for the LB position. Tavares had quite a lot to do against Liverpool and seemed like the weak link in the second half after a formidable first half performance. With that said, fit again and more creative Tierney should be the LB for the match against Magpies.

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