Predicted Arsenal lineup against Newcastle United: Tierney set to return; Partey in for Ceballos

Kieran Tierney should return to the lineup while Thomas Partey is in line to start when Arsenal take on Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal will be aiming to bounce back to winning ways and break into the top half of the Premier League table when they lock horns with Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium on Monday night.

Ahead of the game, manager Mikel Arteta confirmed that Pablo Mari will miss out with a calf injury he sustained in training last week. “He had a calf injury in training [on Wednesday]. I think he will miss a few matches. He’s another one we will lose but we’ve got Gabi [Magalhaes] back after COVID, which is good news,” he said in his press conference.

The Arsenal manager has been handed a double injury boost leading into the game as both Kieran Tierney and Gabriel Martinelli are back in training after missing the last game. There will be a few changes made to the team that failed to defeat Crystal Palace last week, but Bernd Leno is a certain starter between the goals.

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There ought to be two alterations in defence, with Gabriel Magalhaes coming in for David Luiz while the fit-again Tierney replaces Ainsley Maitland-Niles at left-back. Hector Bellerin and Rob Holding should retain their spots to complete the Arsenal backline when the Magpies come visiting.

Thomas Partey made his return from injury in the last game, featuring as a substitute. Arteta, heading into the game, provided an update on the marquee summer signing’s condition. “Well, he’s made the right step. Obviously, he hasn’t played much football in the last four months,” the Arsenal boss said.

“He had an injury in exactly the same place he had before when he got injured against Spurs. Now we have the reassurance that he can compete. He did it for 25, 30 minutes. He did it well, he didn’t feel anything so now we’re going to be looking for the next step.”

Partey should get the nod in the middle of the park against Newcastle, at the expense of Dani Ceballos. The Ghanaian ought to have Granit Xhaka as his partner in the midfield double pivot, with academy product Emile Smith Rowe slotting in as the No. 10 and assuming creative responsibilities.

Even though Martinelli is fit, given his recent injury troubles, Arteta might opt to ease him back into action. That would mean Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang continues on the left flank, with Alexandre Lacazette spearheading the Gunners’ attack. Bukayo Saka will be stationed on the right-wing.

Arsenal Predicted XI: Leno; Bellerin, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney; Partey, Xhaka; Saka, Smith Rowe, Aubameyang; Lacazette