Arsenal vs Newcastle: 5 key players in another must-win

Arsenal have another must-win match ahead against Newcastle United. Here are five key guys to ensure that we take full points at long last.

Arsenal have drawn four straight matches. They’ve shored up the defense while the attack continues to sputter. Last time out, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang finally returned from suspension and promptly showed how much sharpness he was lacking.

But one match now under his belt, we have to be confident that this attack can find its way back into good form.

Aside from that, Mikel Arteta has a lot of decisions to make with this team that will impact where he puts his emphasis, and thus where the key players spring up, but given his track record of keeping the faith, I wouldn’t expect much to have changed after the lengthy break.

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Although there should—keyword should—be one key change that we will get to later. For now, let’s talk about the five key players to avoid yet another anticlimactic result. We will start with No. 5.

5. Hector Bellerin

The longer Hector Bellerin is back, the more he is going to remind us how important he is. After his clutch and, not going to lie, surprising goal against Chelsea, I am convinced that Bellerin’s confidence has skyrocketed and he is primed to take this team by the scruff and lift them up as best he can.

Bellerin’s beautiful combination of attack and defense is still on the repair after missing so much of the season, but going up against Spurs reject Danny Rose, I’m banking on Bellerin being even more inspired to assert his dominance.

On the defensive side of things, we have proven a much higher aptitude for the clean sheet. We also happened to face Newcastle on the opening match of the year, keeping our first away clean sheet in over a year.

If that isn’t good juju, I don’t know what is. Bellerin is a part of that defense, obviously, so relocating to the Emirates for the same fixture, I fully expect a resounding defensive effort, and Bellerin is going to play a big part of that.

Moving on to No. 4.

Next: 4. As always