The Premier League season is still young, but every point matters, especially when you are trying to keep pace at the top of the table.
For Arsenal, their next challenge is a tough trip to the North East to face Newcastle United. The Gunners have started the season reasonably well, with three wins from their first five matches.
However, that one loss has already left them five points behind the early leaders, Liverpool. While there is a long way to go, Mikel Arteta’s team knows that they need to put together a consistent run of results if they want to be in the title conversation.
A victory at a difficult venue like St James’ Park would be a perfect way to build momentum.
For Newcastle, this match is just as important. They will see it as a key opportunity to test themselves against one of the league’s best teams and secure a valuable win in front of their own fans.
However, manager Eddie Howe is facing a significant problem as he prepares his team for the big game. The club’s major summer signing, Yoane Wissa, will not be available.
The forward, who joined from Brentford for a fee that could reach £55 million, has picked up an injury during his early days with his new club.
This is a real blow for the Magpies, as they were hoping their new attacker could make an immediate impact.
Howe provided an update on Wissa’s condition ahead of Newcastle’s midweek Carabao Cup match. The news was mixed. On the positive side, the injury does not require surgery.
But on the downside, the recovery timeline means fans will have to wait a bit longer to see him in action. Howe stated that the team is “looking at the other side of the international break” for his return.
This means Wissa is expected to miss the Arsenal game and will hopefully be ready for the first match after the international players return to their clubs. For a player eager to impress his new supporters, this delay is undoubtedly frustrating.
With an important league game on the horizon, Howe also has to manage his squad carefully. His team has a Carabao Cup match against Bradford City just days before the clash with Arsenal.
This creates a classic manager’s dilemma: how to keep players fresh without losing the team’s competitive edge.
Howe confirmed that he will rotate his squad for the cup game, likely resting some of the key players who featured in three matches last week. He explained the delicate balance he must strike, saying, “We want to pick a strong team and we want to try and progress so I have to get the balance right.
You don’t want players to lose rhythm – that’s really important.” His main goal is to ensure his best players are fit, sharp, and ready for the challenge that Arsenal will bring.
The absence of Wissa also highlights another issue for Newcastle: the need for goals from across the entire team. When asked about where the goals will come from, Howe emphasized that it cannot be the responsibility of just the forwards.
He pointed out that in the past, the team has been successful because defenders have chipped in with goals from set-pieces and even open play.
He stressed that the creativity from midfielders and wingers, as well as the attacking contributions from the full-backs, will be crucial.
The message is clear: everyone on the pitch needs to share the burden of scoring if the team is to be successful.
So, as the big match approaches, both teams have their own focus. Arsenal will be looking to navigate a tricky away fixture and close the gap at the top.
Newcastle, meanwhile, must find a way to overcome the disappointment of a key injury and rally together as a unit.
They will need players to step up and fill the void left by Wissa. It sets the stage for a compelling encounter, where strategy, squad depth, and a shared sense of responsibility could be the deciding factors.
