Red-Hot Martinelli Spearheads Arsenal's Attack Against Newcastle in Predicted XI
Arsenal are looking to narrow the distance to Premier League frontrunners Liverpool as they travel to face Newcastle United this Sunday afternoon.
Lost points against the defending champions and Manchester City have left the Gunners in pursuit mode, adding significant pressure to their journey to the North East this weekend. Newcastle have established themselves as formidable adversaries for Arsenal in recent campaigns, defeating Mikel Arteta's team on three occasions last season.
As has become routine, Arsenal face multiple fitness issues ahead of their clash with Newcastle, though the welcome comebacks of Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard will provide Arteta with optimism for the St James' Park encounter.
Here is Arsenal's potential starting formation.
Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs. Newcastle (4-3-3)
GK: David Raya—Arsenal have allowed only two goals across all tournaments this campaign and Raya benefits from operating behind one of football's finest defensive units. Nevertheless, he will face a stern examination from Newcastle's attacking players this weekend.
RB: Jurriën Timber—Ben White's fitness issues provided Timber with a deserved break during the midweek Carabao Cup triumph over Port Vale. He must be prepared for a challenging encounter with Anthony Gordon on Sunday.
CB: William Saliba—Saliba has committed to a fresh deal with Arsenal, eliminating speculation about a potential Real Madrid move. The French defender will be eager to mark the occasion with success this weekend.
CB: Gabriel—The Brazilian giant has delivered outstanding performances once more this campaign, establishing himself as increasingly vital to Arsenal's solid defensive foundation. He will likely make his presence felt in both penalty areas at St James' Park, with few rivals matching his aerial threat from set pieces.
LB: Riccardo Calafiori—Calafiori has established himself ahead of Myles Lewis-Skelly in the left-back hierarchy, though he may struggle against Anthony Elanga's pace. The Italian defender, who can occasionally be overzealous, must maintain his discipline for this matchup.
CM: Mikel Merino—Ødegaard is expected to feature in the squad on Sunday but seems doubtful to start upon his injury comeback. Merino, who was deployed in an advanced role midweek, should maintain his position in the lineup for the time being.
CM: Martín Zubimendi—Zubimendi has shown promising signs in his early Arsenal career but confronts a significant challenge this weekend. Few midfield combinations match the work rate of Joelinton, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimarães.
CM: Declan Rice—Rice's reliability ensures Arteta has no concerns about the England midfielder on Sunday. He's guaranteed to be fully committed against Newcastle and will resume his dynamic midfield duties once again.
RW: Bukayo Saka—Saka has recovered and is ready for Sunday's encounter, providing welcome relief for Arteta considering Noni Madueke faces approximately two months on the sidelines. The winger may require time to regain match sharpness but will immediately enhance Arsenal's offensive capabilities.
ST: Viktor Gyökeres—The Swedish striker has somewhat struggled against stronger opposition in recent weeks, finding the net at home versus Leeds United and Nottingham Forest while being less effective against teams like Manchester United, Liverpool and Man City.
LW: Gabriel Martinelli—Martinelli has earned his place in Arteta's thinking through impressive substitute appearances. He might even get the nod over Eberechi Eze this weekend despite the summer signing's outstanding midweek goal.
