I think Jack Wilshere could well be key figure in his first domestic game since we put Birmingham City to the sword. He will have his work cut out with the likes of Joey Barton and Kevin Nolan going in for 50-50’s

The complacency in Donetsk will hopefully give us one guarantee for the upcoming game with Newcastle United.

Whilst the Arsenal squad may not always remember the correct amount of commitment to reproduce in every game for the whole entire season, we often witness a hearty performance following a disappointment. With Newcastle United coming to the Emirates hot off the back of an impressive derby mauling of their nearest and not so dearest neighbours Sunderland last weekend, a below par display from our boys could leave the Gunners West Brommed.

To be fair to our players, it was very much a mix and match patched together team away to a side who have forgotten what it is like to lose amongst their home support so tarring this afternoon’s line up with the same brush is a little unfair.

The injury crisis of a few days ago has vanished into thin air which may actually indicate that Arsene was more willing to rest heavy legs rather than protecting actual injuries, or it could well be a bit of both. Either way Alex Song, Cesc Fabregas who almost certainly carried a little hamstring strain around with him against West Ham and Denilson are all back to compete for midfield spaces whilst Andrey Arshavin has gotten over his virus.

With Jack Wilshere one of the brighter performers in the Ukraine, it gives Arsene somewhat of a selection headache (why always a headache?) With Theo Walcott keeping up his impressive goal scoring record in midweek, someone will have to be left out of the starting eleven.

Assuming that our goal scoring defensive midfield maestro Alex Song comes back into the team ahead of Eastmond, and the captain will come back into the team and possibly Wilshere who was one of our better players in midweek will challenge Denilson for the secondary midfield position but it is further afield that Arsene will have to conjure up an answer.

Theo Walcott, Andrey Arshavin and Samir Nasri are the three likely candidates for two positions either side of Marouane Chamakh. That is not including the likes of Tomas Rosicky, Emmanuel Eboue and even Nicklas Bendtner who has played on the right for Arsenal last season.

My gut feeling tells me that Theo Walcott will go back to sitting on the bench and Arshavin will come back on the left hand side but I am hoping for Nasri to be moved onto the left and Theo to start but I am not so sure that will happen.

Whisperings around the twitter scene seems to suggest that Robin Van Persie will take his place on the bench after having completed a sucessful training session. That would be most welcome but I would hope that we see less of Robin in the short term, as in a sprinkling of substute appearences until he is 100% fit and strong. The last thing we want to see is Van Persie break down due to pushing that little too far, too soon.

However watching Robin standing on the sidelines limbering up with ten minutes to go waiting for the ball to go out of play and replace Chamakh would be very exciting to say the least.

I usually try and predict what our manager will do but today I am going to go with what I would like to see.

Mean Lean’s Predicted Line Up

One to watch: Jack Wilshere

With his domestic ban over and done with I think Jack Wilshere could well be key figure in his first domestic game since we put Birmingham City to the sword. He will have his work cut out with the likes of Joey Barton and Kevin Nolan going in for 50-50’s. I expect it to be a very physical game this afternoon and I think Wilshere will play his part in that contest. Hopefully he can get on the ball and show Newcastle his full range of skills and passing.

Mean Lean’s Match Prediction

Arsenal 2 (Cesc, Chamakh) Newcastle 1

I cannot imagine Arsenal running away with this game, it could well be a very tight game. Barton impressed me against Sunderland last weekend, a better footballer than I previously gave him credit for but this game will be a different game all together for the away team. It could be a game won and lost in midfield the rest will be down to our efficiency in front of goal and our defensive team display.

With Chelsea playing later at Anfield, we have to bank the three points and hope that Liverpool can do us a favour in front of their fans.

COME ON YOU REDS!