JoeMorning all, it’s been a while since my last post. I’ve unusually been on a holiday during the football season, which was much needed and very welcome but there is of course no let up for the Arsenal. Since my last post we’ve spanked a hapless Sheffield United and crashed out of the League Cup to West Ham. But this weekend we have the toughest match of the season so far in my opinion. Yes we’ve played City but that was at home. This trip up north to a newly oil soaked club is a different story entirely. It will be a tough test.
Newcastle are a bit of an enigma at the moment. They’re capable of beating anyone on their day but on-paper they don’t look that good. But of course football isn’t played on paper. And this an Arsenal side that don’t seem to travel to the North well, yes we beat them last season and yes we beat Everton earlier this season but those are very much outliers. Trips to the Etihad, Anfield and Old Trafford have rarely yielded positive results. Our record at St James’ Park is markedly better than those but this is a different Newcastle team to the one that just a few seasons ago was scrapping at the bottom of the table.
From a team news perspective we know that Jesus and Partey are out for this one, the hope is the former will be fit after the International break. News on the ground around Thomas Partey is very thin though and I think we all know something isn’t quite right on that side of things. However Martin Odegaard should be fit following his appearance on Wednesday, although I suspect he’ll still face a late fitness test. Arteta mentioned that he has been struggling with a niggly injury and perhaps that explains is rapid drop off in form recently. Saka also came off the bench so there are seemingly no concerns there. Aside from that it’s as you were.
That’s it for today, I’m not going to dissect Wednesdays performance that’s been done enough. As I’ve said many times after a defeat you can only control how you react and we can only hope that its a positive response from the lads. To those travelling, take it easy on those steps!
COYG!
-Joe