Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta could hand January signing Pablo Mari his debut for the club against Newcastle this weekend, according to Mail Online.
The Magpies will travel to the Emirates on Sunday afternoon where they will look to win just their second Premier League game of 2020, having last won against Chelsea in mid-January.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are winless in the Premier League since January st1, having drawn their previous four league games against Burnley, Chelsea, Sheffield United and Crystal Palace.
Now Mail Online report that after impressing Arteta during Arsenal’s training camp in Dubai, Flamengo loanee Mari could be set to feature for the Gunners against Newcastle.
Mari wasn’t included in Arsenal’s game against Burnley before their winter break, as Arteta wants to introduce the Brazilian slowly. However, the Spaniard has hinted that he may now fast track that introduction. Talking to Arsenal’s website, Arteta said:
With Pablo maybe a little bit more than Cedric, but we have to go step by step.
He is a new player and I am sure he is very excited and wants to prove everything in three days, so we have to manage him wisely.
Read Newcastle Verdict
With Arsenal now five points off sixth place in the Premier League table, and they could move even further away following certain results, the Gunners will be desperate to end their torrid drawing streak against Steve Bruce’s side.
Should Mari make his debut for Arsenal, Bruce will need to take advantage of the 26-year old’s lack of experience at the top level, utilising the likes of Allan Saint-Maximin and the potentially returning Miguel Almiron to damaging impact.
Saint-Maximin played centrally against Oxford United in the FA Cup last Tuesday, and having scored the winning goal in extra time, the Frenchman may be buoyed by his own personal form, which could cause Arsenal problems.
Newcastle and Arsenal are both currently level on points, and Sunday marks a golden opportunity for Bruce’s side to move into the top half of the table.
