Pressing Issues

Arsenal head north this week perhaps with a season to save as their best opportunity for a trophy this season beckons. Despite suffering a 2-0 defeat in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final in early January, the Gunners will be confident in their chances of overcoming the deficit.

In Pursuit Of Redemption

St James’ Park has proven a fairly unhappy hunting ground for Arsenal in recent years. Three of their last four league visits to Newcastle have ended in defeat, the most recent of these finishing 1-0 courtesy of an Alexander Isak goal.

Yet Arsenal will journey north full of confidence after their 5-1 dismantling of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, and having also seen Newcastle struggle to a 2-1 defeat to Fulham at the weekend, they may have double the spring in their step.

Despite going in with a two goal disadvantage, Mikel Arteta’s men will take confidence in the fact that they produced six big chances, 23 shots and 70% possession in the first leg. This game came at a time when Arsenal’s forwards were devoid of confidence in front of goal.

It shouldn’t be expected that Arsenal will go to Newcastle and have 70% of the ball, but the Magpies are likely to sit back, defend what they have and look to pull off some smash-and-grab counterattacks. If the mostly prolific finishing of Arsenal on Sunday (aside from Kai Havertz’ early miss which he later corrected) is anything to go by, Arsenal will fancy themselves.

It is expected that Arteta will name a more or less unchanged eleven, in the hopes that the attacking players who were so productive on Sunday remain so midweek.

They will be aware of Newcastle’s counterattacking threat, but with Thomas Partey’s brilliant recent form, Arteta will be optimistic that his work, as well as Arsenal’s notoriously strong ‘rest-defence’ – comprised of Partey, William Saliba, Gabriel and Jurrien Timber all positioning to snuff out clearances and Newcastle clearances – is enough to snuff out any Toon opportunities and maintain pressure of their own.

Dubai Bound

Regardless of Wednesday’s result, Arsenal are set to embark on a trip to Dubai at the weekend while most other Premier League teams are concerned with their FA Cup fixtures.

Arsenal fans may recall that their side went on a similar trip to Dubai last season – after which they produced eight consecutive league wins, scoring 33 goals in the process. If they head to Dubai on the back of overcoming a two goal disadvantage to Newcastle to reach a cup final, the Arsenal squad will feel on top of the world.

A post-Dubai bounce of a similar nature this year would undoubtedly start to mount pressure on Premier League leaders Liverpool.