Newcastle vs Arsenal
This week has been mixed for Mikel Arteta with the loss of Noni Madueke and the return of Bukayo Saka, who came through last weekend’s test against Manchester City.
Visiting St. James Park is not the game Arteta would have chosen this weekend, but Eddie Howe’s Newcastle have not yet found their mojo this season, having won only one game and drawn three.
Losing Alexander Isak’s replacement, Yoane Wissa, at the start of the campaign has hurt them. This feature has seen some spicy meetings in the past, with the managers getting into heated arguments.
Eddie Howe will either use the high press tactic, and being at home, Newcastle should go for a win and not sit back. Can Newcastle create enough chances? Is the question.
Arsenal got a point against City last weekend, but they are four points behind Liverpool, who will open up a seven-point gap if the Gunners lose on Sunday and Liverpool win at Palace.
Martinelli has possibly done enough to make the team, but the midfield is where this game will be won or lost, although Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino have forged an effective and strong partnership during club captain Martin Odegaard’s absence.
Upfront, Leon Trossard could keep his place alongside Victor Gyokeres and Saka. That midfield and strike force could overrun Newcastle’s central players.
At the back, Riccardo Calafiori, Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba and Justin Timber have now cemented their places, and Mikel Arteta has made it plain they are his preferred back-line and will play a 1-4-3-3 formation.
Newcastle are sitting in 13th place, and the fans were expecting so much more. Up front, Jacob Murphy and Nick Woltemade are capable forwards, but I cannot see them overcoming the strength of Arsenal’s backline. Eddie Howe recognises that losing Fabian Schar and Jacob Ramsey to injury has significantly weakened his team.
Tino Livramento, Joe Willock, Lewis Miley, Sandro Tonali and Lewis Hall will likely make up Howe’s attacking 1-3-5-2 formation behind Murphy and Woltemade, but again, they are up against Rice, Zubimendi and Merino. Howe hinted that he is considering giving 22-year-old William Osula a start after he scored twice in the Carabao Cup midweek.
Unless things do not go to plan for Arteta, I suspect a draw is the best Newcastle can hope for, but as they say, anything can happen in football, and the Newcastle supporters are a mighty bonus.
Brentford vs Manchester United
At last, United have won a game, beating Chelsea last weekend, and coach Ruben Amorim is looking for his first back-to-back wins since taking over as coach. Brentford’s new man, Keith Andrews, is very concerned having succumbing to Fulham 3-1 away from home in the London derby last weekend. The Bees were always likely to struggle, having lost their best players and coach during the summer, and they sit just one place outside the relegation bottom three.
A 2-2 draw with Chelsea gave them hope, but for this game but Andrews must demand his midfield of Yehor Yarmoliuk, Jordan Henderson and Mikkel Damsgaard to be at their best. Holding Bryan Mbeumo, who plays his first game against his old club and will encounter some stick from the crowd, Benjamin Sesko and Amad Diallo will challenge Brentford’s senior players all afternoon.
With Casemiro missing from United’s midfield after his sending off last weekend, Ruben Amorim faces a difficult choice. The 19-year-old Kobbie Mainoo is energetic and composed, but he has played only 76 Premier League minutes. Manuel Ugarte is the other option, and he is the safer pair of hands, disciplined and a tough tackler.
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool
Not many people expected Palace to be sitting in fifth place in the league, and they face Liverpool with confidence. Both clubs are the only unbeaten sides in the PL.
Oliver Glasner’s Palace have extended their unbeaten run to 17 in all competitions, winning 2-1 at West Ham last weekend. Star striker Jean Phillipe-Mateta is on form, and he is backed up by Yeremy Pino and Daichi Kamada, but it was Tyrell Mitchell who scored a superb winner last weekend, and the three will test Liverpool’s back-line.
Up front, everyone is waiting to see how Alexander Isak will perform. He will replace Hugo Ekitike, who foolishly got sent off in midweek for a second yellow card after celebrating his goal by removing his shirt.
Carrying a £130 million prize tag around your neck would frighten most players, but Palace have no reason to boo Isak, the new striker, and he will be full of confidence. Maxence Lacroix has the job of containing the ex-Newcastle man.
He lines up next to Marc Guehi, who almost joined Liverpool during the summer. In the centre, Richard Hughes and the excellent Adam Wharton will do battle with Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai, which will be a tight contest.
The coaches, Oliver Glasner and Arne Slot, are on good terms, but I suspect this match could get a little spicy. Liverpool have not been scoring freely, but they manage to grind out results often by just the one goal, and Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson will be anxious to show he is still at the top of his game. Between Liverpool’s posts, Alisson will return.
