Sean Longstaff is out injured, and Fabian Schar is suspended for the match tonight at Arsenal, but the Swiss International will be available for our next game on Saturday at home to Crystal Palace.
Our last game we two weeks last Saturday at Bournemouth and the primary selection decision for Rafa for the game tonight is whether to bring captain Jamaal Lascelles back into the side.
Newcastle had Lejeune, Fernandez, and Dummett for aback three supplemented by wing backs DeAndre Yedlin and Matt Ritchie.
We don’t expect any wholesale changes by the manager, and it could be that he plays an unchanged side tonight at the Emirates with Federico Fernandez keeping his place in the starting eleven.
Federico Fernandez – could keep his place tonight
So this could be the team that starts tonight in a 3-4-3 formation:
Dubravka
Lejeune Fernandez Dummett (c)
Yedlin Diane Hayden Ritchie
Perez Rondon Almiron
Rafa could also decide to bring in Ki or Shelvey for Diame in midfield.
There could possibly be a start for Atsu on the left wing in case Almiron is not ready to play tonight – although that would be a surprise.
What team would you start tonight?
Not many fans think we can get all 3 points tonight – a point would be a good point.
Comments welcome.
5 comments so far
The next Mike Williamson
Apr 1, 2019 at 2:15 PM
Comment #1We’re not doing as well away as we used to. Perhaps we might revert to our old 4-2-3-1 formation and park the bus, hitting them on the break aiming long passes up to Almiron and Rondon.
martoon
Apr 1, 2019 at 2:20 PM
Comment #2I’d go with Ed’s team except if Lascelles is fit (which I think he is) then I think he’ll play rather than Fernandez who had a bit of a dodgy game against Bournemouth.
toonbrother
Apr 1, 2019 at 2:31 PM
Comment #3Ed i see your hatred for lascelles continues unabated
fortunately rafa doesnt share your blinkered myopic world view
I expect the boss to make you and your predictions look silly once again this evening
lololol
SA Toon
Apr 1, 2019 at 2:56 PM
Comment #4I expect to see Ed’s team with Lascelles in for Fernandez and Shelvey in for Diame. We looked like a different side last time out when Shelvey came on, and the idea of him pushing passes through to Almiron and Rondon on the break is exciting. Looking forward to a good game tonight!
magpie_in_ohio
Apr 1, 2019 at 4:36 PM
Comment #5Would very much like an alternative to Yedlin at RB. While he has a ton of pace, he’s been giving the ball away far too often of late.