What Arsenal Need: A good performance from Baptista is required so he can start to try and cement his place in the team. As yet I don't know where he'll fit in and who'll be sacrificed but I do hope he establishes himself in the starting eleven.
Things To Watch Out For: I'm still keeping an eye on the way Henry captains the team, as with eveything else associated with Henry, we expect him to captain with class.
Hopes For The Match: I hope Arsenal exhibit a ruthless and aggressive streak. I want them to get the ball forward as quickly as possible, using every opportunity to counter-attack with pace.
I also hope that Arsenal attack Newcastle on the wings, where their pace should cause the Magpies defenders some problems. In the middle of the park I hope Arsenal let their technical superiority show, keeping the ball away from the opposition for as long as possible.
My team selection for this game:
Henry (Adebayor if he is rested)
van Persie, Baptista, Flamini, Fabregas, Hleb
Clichy, Gallas, Toure, Eboue
Lehmann
Subs: Almunia, Walcott, Senderos, Denilson, Hoyte (Adebayor if Henry starts the match).
Unavailable:
Henry (potentially) - Wenger was furious that Domenech played both Gallas and Henry for the full 90 minutes in the mid-week friendly. It means that Wenger may sit Henry on the bench against Newcastle and save him for the important Champions League game on Tuesday.
Ljungberg - Lack of match fitness and had a reaction to some cheese, should be ok for the Hamburg match.
Gilberto - Away in Brazil for "family reasons and sickness reasons" but will be flying back on Sunday night and should train on Monday with a view to playing against Hamburg.
Rosicky - Still out with a hamstring injury and will be out for the Hamburg game too.
Diaby - On course to return in January after suffering a fracture-dislocated ankle last season.
Lauren - Still rehabilitating from a knee injury that has kept him out since January 21st.
Long-term issues: I may not be popular when I say this but I believe the 06-07 Gunners can't play the same style of football as the untouchables of 03-04. I personally think that team was better to watch as you really felt they could score with every attack, whereas this season they have been less potent in front of goal.
With Pires gone and Ljungberg less evident, Arsenal don't have the same attacking impetus as they used to. The unstoppable counter-attacking has all but disappeared and this is why the goals have been more hard to come by. This season Arsenal just aren't getting enough people in the opposing team's box.
Similarly, I think Henry is wasted in a 4-5-1 and as yet this season he hasn't really scored a typical Henry break-away type goal. I believe Fabregas should be encouraged to look for the forward pass more quickly and stop slowing the game down by playing the ball across the midfield so often.
Prediction: Arsenal 3 Newcastle 0
