Arsenal vs Newcastle: Newcastle offer stern test of Arsenal's depleted resources

Injuries, mutinous supporters, a
scramble for fourth place and
unseeded in the Champions League
last 16. This season is turning out
much like most recent seasons for
Arsène Wenger who seems stuck in
his personal Groundhog Day.
Today brings the visit of Newcastle
United and Wenger would in this
case welcome a repeat of last year,
or the one before. The Magpies
have been beaten 3-0 and 7-3 in
their last two visits to the Emirates
but arrive this time off the back of
seven wins in nine games including
last week’s defeat of Chelsea, the
latter’s first of the season. They also
have the benefit of a week’s rest
whereas Arsenal have been to
Istanbul and back, losing Aaron
Ramsey to a hamstring injury in the
process.
The Welsh midfielder will be out for
at least three weeks, missing the
busy Christmas programme, and
Wenger recalled Francis Coquelin
from Charlton Athletic in response.
The Frenchman will be involved
today, though not necessarily from
the start. Injuries, notably the
ongoing Achilles problem afflicting
Laurent Koscielny, mean Wenger
does have some difficult selection
decisions, notably in defence, again.
Mathieu Debuchy is fit, after three
months out, but with Calum
Chambers suspended the right-back
may have to play his former club at
centre-half. “It will be a gamble, of
course, but [whatever] solution I
have to decide will not be ideal,”
said Wenger, adding, “there is not a
massive difference between right-
back and centre-back.”
Per Mertesacker is among many
defenders unlikely to agree with
such a view, and there are few
indications to date that Debuchy is
as versatile as his predecessor as
Arsenal’s right-back, Bacary Sagna.
Wenger’s critics would argue the
need to consider playing Debuchy
in the centre is a consequence of
the manager’s failure to sign
defensive cover during the summer,
but that is unlikely to concern
Wenger to judge from his dismissal
of the travelling fans who crudely
abused him at Stoke.
“It is not my problem. My problem
is to win football games,” he said.
“I am not a politician who makes a
poll every week to see if you
support me. My sense is to focus on
my job. My message to supporters?
What is in the word ‘support’?
Support. It says what it says.
“Do I hear it and feel it? Honestly
you don’t think I will find 20 people
who say that you are rubbish?
Every week. Do they represent the
majority of people? I don’t know
but you have to win your football
games, That’s all.”
As if to highlight Arsenal’s problems
Newcastle, who trail Arsenal only
on goal difference, have two key
defenders, Fabricio Coloccini and
Daryl Janmaat, fit to play.