Arsenal vs. Newcastle United: Issues and Decisions That Will Shape EPL Game

Arsenal and Newcastle United face off this weekend in one of the most interesting matches of Gameweek 16.

Both clubs had rocky starts to the season, but Alan Pardew braved a fan insurrection and managed to shoot his team up the table to seventh place. They are level on points with Arsenal, who sit just above them in sixth.

Arsenal are better on paper, but as we know, that does not always translate into three points for the Gunners. Let's look at some key factors that will determine the outcome of the game.

Newcastle's Confidence

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It's tough to imagine how you could feel much better about yourself after giving the prospective league champions their first defeat of the season on your own turf. Few gave Newcastle a chance of ending Chelsea's unbeaten run last weekend, but they took the Blues down.

The confidence that victory provides usually carries over into a team's next match and spurs them to play a notch or two above their usual level. Though Newcastle will be traveling to north London to play Arsenal, the Gunners will have to be ready for their opponents to fly out of the gate.

Arsenal got caught out within the first couple of minutes against Stoke City due to a lack of organization and focus. There can be no such lapses this weekend.

Laurent Koscielny's Fitness

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Arsenal, and Per Mertesacker specifically, have looked utterly out of sorts without Laurent Koscielny in the center of defense.

Koscielny provided a massive boost when he returned to play Southampton, but has not featured in Arsenal's last two games—presumably due to the chronic ankle problems that have kept him out for much of the season.

However, he will have had 10 days to rest by the time Arsenal face Newcastle. He was spared trips to Stoke and Turkey, allowing him to heal without the strain of travel.

Newcastle's attack has been very efficient during their recent renaissance, and an Arsenal defense with Mertesacker as its only natural central defender tends to leave itself wide open.

Olivier Giroud, Danny Welbeck or Both?

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Arsenal now have two—count 'em, two—fully fit strikers. As incredible as the foregoing sounds, it gives Arsene Wenger numerous options for how to arrange his attack.

He could use both at the same time, either in a 4-4-2 or with Danny Welbeck in his unfavored left wing spot. Or he could use only Giroud, so that the attack has a focal point who can hold the ball up. Finally, he might choose Welbeck if he values pace, guile and movement.

My guess is that he chooses the former, pushing Santi Cazorla into midfield and allowing Welbeck to rotate with Alexis Sanchez on the right wing and Giroud in the middle.

Wenger's choice will significantly affect the structure of Arsenal's front line.

Will Arsenal's Injury List Get Any Shorter?

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According to Arsene Wenger, as reported on the club's official website, Arsenal will not have many of their injured players back for the Newcastle match.

Aaron Ramsey has been ruled out of this weekend's clash, per the BBC, but it is not yet clear how long he will remain on the sidelines. The Welshman's fitness is key to Arsenal's success, given his recently resurgent form and stunning goal against Galatasaray in midweek.

While Laurent Koscielny will likely be out and the likes of Theo Walcott and Mikel Arteta are not yet ready, Arsenal will have to compensate for their best players' absences by organizing and putting in an Alexis Sanchez-level effort for 90 minutes.

They have recently not been able to do so, and that needs to change if they are to get their domestic form back on track.

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