Martin Keown has pinpointed where Newcastle can take advantage of Arsenal this weekend, unless Mikel Arteta changes his personnel.
The Gunners have fielded experienced Swiss midfielder Grant Xhaka at left-back in recent games, in the absence of Kieran Tierney.
But Keown believes Arteta must not let Newcastle's Allan Saint-Maximin go up against the make-shift defender at St James' Park this weekend, with Bukayo Saka the man who should handle United's in-form Frenchman.
"A key issue, which may well be highlighted against Newcastle, is at left back,’ Keown told the Daily Mail.
"Granit Xhaka does not deserve to be getting the blame. I feel for him. He’s a midfielder being told to play at left back by his manager in Kieran Tierney’s absence.
"Keown wants Saka at left-back rather than Xhaka. He played well there against Sheffield United, and Arsenal kept their first clean sheet for 13 games.
"But he has since been left exposed by higher-quality opponents, such as Richarlison for Everton and Samuel Chukwueze for Villarreal.
"He could now face Newcastle’s in-form Allan Saint-Maximin. Let’s not even go into how a club like Arsenal, whose owners wanted them in the closed-shop European Super League, finds itself without a back-up left back.
"Villarreal boss Unai Emery identified Xhaka at left back and Dani Ceballos on the left of a midfield two as the vulnerable area in Arteta’s side on Thursday.
"Emery showed his experience against a team he knew well, while Arteta showed his inexperience. If Tierney is fit, he walks into the team for that all-or-nothing second leg. If not, Saka must play at left back, a position where has excelled previously for club and country.
"If Arteta sticks with 4-2-3-1, Xhaka can then go back alongside Thomas Partey in midfield, where he has been much improved this season."
United boss Steve Bruce is looking for Saint-Maximin to find a level of consistency after some excellent recent performances.
Bruce, speaking ahead of the Arsenal game, said: "For Allan, he needs to find consistency when it comes to staying well and staying fit.
"Covid hit him badly, but you can see that when he’s playing injury-free, then he is a special, special talent who will inevitably draw interest."
