Arsenal v Newcastle: match preview

Eddie Howe makes a belated first appearance in Newcastle’s technical area and will hope for an improvement on the Magpies’ usual offerings at the Emirates. They have avoided defeat at Arsenal’s home only twice across 16 visits and have lost the last 10; the omens stack up even less promisingly given the improved form Mikel Arteta’s side have shown, notwithstanding last weekend’s humbling by Liverpool. Arteta hopes a post-match inquest among his players at Anfield will set them back on course but must be wary of a sting from Joe Willock, whose sale to Newcastle he sanctioned in the summer. Nick Ames

Saturday 12.30pm BT Sport 1

Venue Emirates Stadium

Last season Arsenal 3 Newcastle 0

Referee Stuart Attwell

This season G8 Y25 R0 3.13 cards/game

Odds H 1-2 A 6-1 D 4-1

ARSENAL

Subs from Leno, Hein, Okonkwo, Chambers, Marí, Holding, Soares, Tavares, Elneny, Maitland-Niles, Ødegaard, Pépé, Balogun, Martinelli, Nketia

Doubtful None

Injured Xhaka, (knee, 26 Dec), Kolasinac (ankle, unknown)

Suspended None

Discipline Y17 R1

Form DDWWWL

Leading scorers Aubameyang, Smith Rowe 4

NEWCASTLE

Subs from Darlow, Lewis, Hayden, Krafth, Manquillo, Fernández, Longstaff, Fraser, Almirón, Anderson

Doubtful None

Injured Dummett (calf, unknown), Gayle (hamstring, unknown)

Suspended None

Discipline Y33 R1

Form LLDLDD

Leading scorer Wilson 4