OPINION
Newcastle United captain Jamaal Lascelles missed the Magpies’ 2-2 draw with Bournemouth last time out after picking up an injury against Everton, but he is now back in the mix, and manager Rafael Benitez must hand him a start against Arsenal a week on Monday.
The Shields Gazette reported earlier this week that both Lascelles and his fellow defender Ciaran Clark have returned to training after being sidelined.
Centre half Fabian Schar remains suspended, with this being the second of his two game ban, while Federico Fernandez produced a measly effort against the Cherries.
With that said, a three man centre back trio of Lascelles, Florian Lejeune and Paul Dummett would surely be the ideal way to proceed against the Gunners.
The Englishman, on a reported £40,000-per-week at St James’ Park [Source: Spotrac], may not be having his finest season, but if Fernandez’s Bournemouth showing is any indication the skipper is still a much safer pair of hands than the Argentine at present.
Dummett, on the other hand, excelled at the Vitality Stadium and should keep his place as a result. Lejeune’s been a bit iffy of late, but he appears to be a Benitez favourite and will most likely get the nod against Unai Emery’s side.
Lascelles’s leadership and pure defensive ability will be much needed against the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette, his pace too.
The 25-year-old is well respected by his teammates and it would give them a huge boost, as well, to have him leading them out of the Emirates Stadium tunnel. Benitez must do the sensible thing and restore his fit-again captain to the starting line up against the Gunners – he could be the foundation for a shock result.
