- Arsenal could take U-turn in Caicedo transfer stance
- Arsenal consider selling Folarin Balogun next summer
- Ex-Arsenal striker says White lost his form in recent times
- Arsenal will need to pay at least £120m to sign Declan Rice
- Arsenal make firm move to sign Milinkovic-Savic next summer
- Arsenal plotting summer swoop for Brighton star Kaoru Mitoma
- Arsenal predicted line-up against Everton
- Arsenal camp buzzing after ‘canny’ Jorginho addition
- Arsenal suffer fresh injury scare ahead of Everton clash
- Arsenal eyeing a move for Chelsea star Hudson-Odoi
Ben White fit | How Arsenal should line-up vs Newcastle
Arsenal can reclaim fourth place with victory over Newcastle United at St James’ Park tonight. This is the line-up I’d like to see Mikel Arteta select for the match…
Obviously the big question mark surrounds the availability of Ben White and Gabriel as Rob Holding is suspended following his controversial sending off against Tottenham last week.
White was an unused substitute during the defeat to Spurs having missed Arsenal’s last four games, while Gabriel was forced off with a hamstring issue at White Hart Lane.
Arteta says the duo will be assessed before a final decision is made over their availability but given the importance of this game, I think it’s safe to say Arsenal will risk them if they are even close to being fit.
Therefore, I hope we see White and Gabriel starting in the middle of defence as that would allow Takehiro Tomiyasu to start at right-back. If either White or Gabriel are out, then Tomi will have to play in central defence. If both White and Gabi are out, we’re screwed and Granit Xhaka or Mo Elneny will have to dro back into defence.
I thought it was a mistake to start Cedric Soares on the right against Hueng-min Son on Thursday night. I hope Arteta doesn’t make the same mistake tonight as Cedric against Allan Saint-Maximin is a terrifying thought. I’d prefer we go with Tomi on the right and Nuno Tavares on the left.
In midfield, Martin Odegaard should start ahead of Xhaka and Elneny. Bukayo Saka will keep his place on the right wing while I’d stick with Gabriel Martinelli on the left. Arsenal need his energy in the final third so Emile Smith Rowe will remain on the bench.
Up front, Eddie Nketiah should lead the line again. His pace and movement has been important lately so Alexandre Lacazette should remain on the bench along with Nicolas Pepe.
The team below has a good chance of getting a vital three points at Newcastle tonight. If White/Gabriel are out, then I fear our top four chances will be over.
Here is the side I hope we see: