OPINION
Rafa Benitez must unleash Newcastle United attacker Christian Atsu against Arsenal after the international break as surely his latest display gave him a confidence boost.
The 27-year-old winger wowed for Ghana in their 1-0 win over Kenya and looked lively throughout the match.
Atsu constantly ran at Kenya’s defence and why it was only a narrow win for his nation, the winger did in fact create several chances for his side.
The Magpies attacker has been in-and-out of Benitez’s team all season and you feel he is a confidence player.
If Atsu isn’t confident in his abilities then he can’t deliver a performance worthy of his ability and this sees him struggle in games.
Yet when the winger is at his best due to his pace, tricky footwork and eagerness to impress; Atsu can be handful for any side in the Premier League.
So when you consider that he impressed for his nation and was on the wining side, surely Atsu is in the right-mind set to deliver the goods in the first game back after the international break.
The 27-year-old has shown glimpses of how useful a player he can be in some of his 26 outings this season, and given that the Gunners look defensively vulnerable than Atsu could have a field day against them.
The Gunners will not appreciate a player like the Magpies winger who’d costly run at them and hound them into making a mistake, so that means Atsu could help Benitez’s side overcome the London club.
The Magpies player has only played 29 minutes of his side’s last four league games but given his recent confidence boost, Benitez has to use him against Arsenal.
