Petr Cech tries his hand outfield as Arsenal try to turn around league form against Newcastle
Gunners need a Premier League win against the Toon on Saturday after drifting down to seventh following a loss and two draws
PETR CECH has moved outfield in a bid to get Arsenal’s Premier League form back on track against struggling Newcastle this weekend.
The Gunners goalkeeper is part of the team that has taken just two points from the last three league matches in a worrying dip.
The former Chelsea star showed striker Danny Welbeck a clean pair of heels at Arsenal’s London Colney base on Friday.
Cech is bound to start between the sticks but Skrodan Mustafi and Aaron Ramsey are not as fit as the drum-playing stopper.
Wenger said in his pre-match press conference: “Mustafi is back in training but I don’t know if I will include him. A bit of a gamble.
“Ramsey will not be available, out for a bit longer. Maybe three weeks.
And Jack Wilshere, who looked back to his best in the Europa League battering of BATE, but struggled with a rare Prem against West Ham, is again fighting for his place.
Wenger went coy when asked if the Englishman was back in his first-choice plans, saying: “I don’t know yet, I rotate a little bit at the moment.
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“We play four games in basically nine days so I will assess a little bit how everybody recovers.”
Arsenal need to beat the Toon on Saturday to climb out of seventh spot and keep their top-four target in sight.
But Wenger reckons Manchester City’s top spot is still up for grabs despite Pep Guardiola’s men already being 19 points ahead of his side.
He said: “There’s still a long way to go. They have quality to turn it in their favour.
“They have plenty of resources and quality. It’s not easy. You have to respect their achievement.”