Paul Merson has predicted that Mikel Arteta will drop ‘X-factor’ Arsenal star Eberechi Eze for Arsenal’s clash against Newcastle on Sunday.
Eze was handed a start and was one of Arsenal’s best players in the 2-0 Carabao Cup victory over Port Vale on Wednesday night.
The 27-year-old registered his first Arsenal goal since his £67.5m summer arrival from Crystal Palace at Vale Park.
Merson wants to see Eze remain in the starting XI for Sunday’s Premier League game at Newcastle – but believes he’ll be named on the bench.
‘I’d play Bukayo Saka, Eze and Viktor Gyokeres as the front-three here but I don’t think Arteta will do that if I’m being honest,’ Merson told Sportskeeda.
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‘I have a feeling Gabriel Martinelli will start instead of Eze. He’s a disciplined player and can be useful with his pace.
‘But Eze is the X-factor, he can unlock defences like he showed it against Manchester City.’
Merson feels his former club Arsenal will drop more points at St James’ Park amid their Premier League title fight with Liverpool.
‘Newcastle always turn up against Arsenal,’ Merson added. ‘The fans at St James’ Park are always good, but they just get a bit more electric in this fixture.
‘Arsenal have lost their last three games there, so this a tricky game for them.
‘If Liverpool are held to a draw at Crystal Palace, Arsenal wouldn’t mind walking away with a point here.
‘But if the league leaders get another three points, this game automatically falls into the must-win category.
‘When you look at Arsenal, they would have faced all of Liverpool, Manchester City and Newcastle after this weekend.
‘Imagine spending big and not beating any of these three teams that finished in the top five last season? Where is the progress then?
‘Arsenal have a good run of fixtures coming up after this game. But if you don’t beat Newcastle, you are basically entering that run with an eight-point lead to chase down.
‘If you’re a team in the title race, you don’t want to be playing catch up when the easy fixtures come along, you want to use them to get away from other contenders and kick on instead.
‘Arsenal must not sit back in this game, if they do that, Newcastle will score. We saw how Newcastle gave Liverpool a strong fight with just 10 men at St James’ Park earlier this season.
‘Liverpool were very fortunate to come away with a win in that game. If you’re Arsenal, you want to match what Liverpool did here, but I don’t think they can do it. Newcastle United 1-1 Arsenal.’