After the midweek valiant effort of yet another 2nd round European exit, Arsene Wenger’s team must now focus on their Premier League responsibilities for the remainder of the season, starting away to Newcastle tomorrow afternoon.
Team News
Arsenal: There isn’t an awful lot to report on the injury front this week, as everyone who played on Tuesday got through the match unscathed.
Long term absentees Mikel Arteta, Mathieu Debuchy and Jack Wilshere are all continuing their road to recovery, whilst Tomas Rosicky who missed the trip to France has a chance to be involved. Defender Gabriel Paulista who travelled on Tuesday is available for team selection after being sidelined since the victory away to QPR.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is of course out with a hamstring problem.
Newcastle: John Carver’s side will be without host of first team players, as the club continue to be plagued with suspensions and injuries.
In defence, Fabricio Coloccini starts his three match ban after seeing red last Sunday in their 3-0 defeat to Everton, Steven Taylor is sidelined with an Achilles problem, whereas Paul Dummett and Massadio Haidara both have knee injuries.
Midfielders Medhi Abeid and England U-20s international Rolando Aarons have thigh strains as key man Cheick Tiote also has a knee injury. There’s a huge injury boost with the return to training of Siem De Jong, who’s only managed 3 appearances on his début season for the club, before suffering from a collapsed lung some months ago.
Up front, star striker Papiss Cisse continues to serve his 7 match suspension for the spitting incident involving Jonny Evans of Manchester United.
Predicted Teams
David Ospina is expected to continue his run between in goal whilst there could be room in the starting line-up, for either Hector Bellerin or Calum Chambers. Gabriel could also come back into the back line after only making the bench on Tuesday.
Aaron Ramsey is likely to start this game after scoring 2 goals in two games, which could see Danny Welbeck pushed out of the squad in favour of Mesut Ozil to deputise out wide.
Arsenal:Â Ospina, Chambers, Gabriel, Koscielny, Gibbs, Coquelin, Ramsey, Cazorla, Ozil, Alexis, Giroud
Subs: Szczesny, Bellerin, Monreal, Mertesacker, Rosicky, Walcott, Welbeck,
Newcastle:Â Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Satka, R Taylor, Sissoko, Colback, Ameobi, Gourffran, Obertan, Riviere
Subs: Elliot, Good, Gutierrez, Anita, Perez, Cabella, Armstrong