Good morning!
It’s press conference day for Mikel Arteta ahead of Saturday’s trip to Newcastle United, the scene of his famous or infamous (depending on how you look at it) post-match rant last season.
It’s the first in a triple-header of away fixtures that could either propel or derail Arsenal’s season and there are plenty of sub-plots boiling under the surface.
Has Arteta changed in the year since his last visit to St James’?
After last November’s controversial 1-0 loss at Newcastle, Arteta heavily criticised the VAR system, calling it “embarrassing” and a “disgrace”.
But after being charged with bringing the game into disrepute, he was cleared by a 37-page report.
Since then, Arteta has steered clear of making bold statements on refereeing decisions but his temperament on the touchline and in the post-match interviews on Saturday will be tested in what is expected to be a feisty game.
Having topped the Premier League charts for most managerial bookings last season (five, tied with Brighton & Hove Albion’s former boss Roberto De Zerbi), he has yet to be cautioned this season.
Controlling his emotions will be important but it is even more integral that Arsenal’s players do the same if they hope to leave with three points. Arsenal’s biggest issue has been the red cards they have received.
Whether they have been harsh or not, being reduced to 10 men three times in nine games is always likely to pose difficulties. Newcastle will be in their faces and it is up to them to front it up without being dragged into needless situations.
I’ve written about Arteta and how he is managing his own public persona — that will be published later.
Merino against his old side or the Nwaneri wildcard?
Newcastle away presents one of the toughest fixtures in the calendar, with the physicality and aggression of Eddie Howe’s side demanding that any opposition midfield are ready to battle.
Mikel Merino now has six appearances under his belt and his goal against Liverpool showed his threat in the air.
He knows all about the intensity of St James’ Park, having spent the 2017-18 season there, and his strengths in duels seem perfectly suited to this type of game. But Arteta has a decision to make on the balance of his midfield.
Thomas Partey, Declan Rice and Merino is a solid trio but it lacks a creative type. They could fall into the trap of treating the game as a dogfight, meaning Arsenal do not play their own football.
Ethan Nwaneri’s thunderous goal against Preston North End on Wednesday underlined his credentials and how he could provide a different balance. Whether Saturday is too soon to throw him in for his first Premier League start is a question that Arteta will have to make a call on.
What does an unlocked Gabriel Jesus look like?
Arteta hopes Gabriel Jesus’ first goal since January can change his mentality. Jesus said himself after the 3-0 win over Preston that he has started to focus more on his goals, having often celebrated the strength of his all-round game instead of his penalty-box instincts.
But with Kai Havertz the first-choice centre forward this season, what does an “unlocked” Jesus look like?
His knee and groin issues have interrupted his progress but coming off the bench more often may help his body remain healthy. He does not want to be limited to being a super sub but this new role may be one that can change games for Arsenal.
The way he twists and turns away from defenders and combines with team-mates in tight spaces offers Arteta a great option in the second half of games if they are chasing a goal.
It is not the role he would have envisaged when he moved from Manchester City in 2022 and “changed our world”, as Arteta put it, but the team has changed. It may be the case that a role as a super sub, when the opposition are tired, increases his potency.
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