Get Involved

Am I missing something? I thought Merino was brought in to develop the flank!? Complement Martinelli! So why is he playing on the right side?

Anon

Stephen Warnock
Former Liverpool defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

I don't think Arsenal have looked as slick and organised in the way that they have played this season.

Defensively they retreat [as games go on], the press isn't there in the latter stages of games. They expect to keep a clean sheet and are quite happy to let teams come onto them.

Image source, Getty Images

Stephen Warnock
Former Liverpool defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

Manchester City and Liverpool could increase the gap on Arsenal today. It becomes a game where you cannot let City and Liverpool get that advantage straight away.

It's already five points to Manchester City, four to Liverpool so if that stretches even more today, it's a big ask even just a third of the way through the season.

Newcastle United

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, speaking to TNT Sports: "A big boost of confidence levels from Wednesday night [against Chelsea], a really good performance. Energy was good about the group. There's definitely been a bounce in our step the last few games and we want to take that into today.

"It will be competitive. We have to be the team we were last year. We were strong, resilient and together and we have to show all those qualities again."

On his team selection: "We're trying to manage everyone's game load. It's about trying to manage everyone's game in the midfield. Sandro [Tonali] misses out today from the start but he will be important from the bench. Bruno [Guimaraes] had a rest on Wednesday and hopefully will benefit for us today. The bench could be a deciding factor for us today."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, BBC Sport

Newcastle have been heavily reliant on Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak to get them goals in recent seasons.

Isak would usually play in the Premier League and Wilson went on a run of games in cup competitions. But I think the reason they have struggled to kick on this season is because of the absence of Sven Botman. It has really impacted the back line.

Prior to him getting injured last season they had a strong defence and a settled back five - if you include goalkeeper Nick Pope.

Botman and Jamaal Lascelles remain sidelined and with everything that went on with Kieran Trippier a few months ago, they are a bit disjointed.

The defence has been the foundation of this club in recent years and it is what Eddie Howe has implemented. A settled back line is something to build on and Howe had that in place quite early so they did not concede many goals.

But they have lost those defensive foundations a little bit, plus they did not bring anyone in to freshen the squad in the summer so the squad depth is not really there to help them when they are depleted through injuries.

Arsenal have won eight of their last 11 Premier League games kicking off at 12:30 on a Saturday (D1 L2), with their last such defeat coming at Everton in February 2023.

Image source, Getty Images

Football Focus

Your Saturday Premier League build-up continues with Football Focus - which is now live.

Join Kelly Somers and guests on BBC One or clicking play at the top of this page.

Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka has created more chances than any other Premier League player this season (27), while with three goals and seven assists he’s one of four players with double figures for goal involvements this term.

Indeed, he’s either scored or assisted a goal in 10 of his last 12 league games, including seven of eight this season.

Image source, Getty Images

Get Involved

Shouldn't be any controversy today with the improvements in VAR and most importantly Arteta hopefully playing eleven men who don't just stop playing because they think the ball has gone out of play.

Dan, Bedford

The TV coverage of this game has just shown that goal from Dennis Bergkamp at St James' Park in 2002.

He was a wonderful player, an Arsenal great. But I am still in the 'he didn't mean it' camp, sorry.

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, speaking to TNT Sports: "To play these big matches in these beautiful stadiums against great opponents - that is what we want."

On team news: "Gabi [Gabriel] trained yesterday, he felt okay so he plays. Willy [Saliba] is back after suspension. Ben [White] didn't quite make it as he only had half a session yesterday. It is the third time he has had that [injury] so we have to protect him."

On what his side must do to challenge for the title: "Playing with 11 players is critical and then the availability of the squad. That is what we had well last season and then you can challenge. Then the games are decided by fine margins. The team has shown great ability to adapt and then it is decided by moments."

On the title race: "It's too early .Were just focusing on us. All the positive things ae are doing and how we can improve. We lost momentum against Liverpool. We are a team that when we have momentum and belief is high we are very difficult to play against. We have to show our teeth. When things are against you that's when you show yourself. Today is a great opportunity to show that."

Image source, BBC Sport

This is a bit of a grudge match after what happened when Arsenal came to St James' Park last season and lost to a controversial Anthony Gordon goal.

Newcastle are on a run of five league games without a win, but they have been a little unlucky during that spell. They are creating plenty of chances, but just not scoring enough of them.

I worry about Arsenal in the final third too, though, because they are wasteful as well.

The Gunners really need a win here to cling on to the tail of leaders Manchester City, but my gut feeling is that Newcastle will get something out of this game, and it has got a draw written all over it.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Last season's meeting was certainly eventful.

Anthony Gordon's 64th-minute strike decided the game, but that does not tell the full story. There were three VAR checks - to see if the ball went out of play, if there was a foul and if there was an offside - all coming back in Newcastle's favour.

Mikel Arteta was apoplectic, labelling the decision "embarrassing" and a "disgrace" in his post-match interview. He was later charged with misconduct but avoided punishment following and independent Regulatory Commission hearing.

That should give today's game a little edge.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Anthony Gordon has been involved in 17 goals across his last 22 home Premier League appearances (10 goals, 7 assists), meanwhile, Alexander Isak has had a hand in 17 goals across his last 16 starts at St James’ Park in the Premier League (15 goals, 2 assists).

Indeed, this calendar year, only Erling Haaland (24), Cole Palmer (21) and Jean-Philippe Mateta (17) have scored more Premier League goals than Isak (15).

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, BBC Sport

Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon are both fit to start for Newcastle. Sandro Tonali drops to the bench, with Sean Longstaff and Joe Willock keeping their places from the midweek Carabao Cup win over Chelsea.

Newcastle XI: Pope, Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall, Longstaff, Guimaraes, Willock, Gordon, Isak, Joelinton.

Subs: Dubravka, Tonali, Barnes, Krafth, Osula, Almiron, Kelly, A Murphy, Miley.

Image source, BBC Sport

Arsenal defender Gabriel is fit to start after he was forced off against Liverpool last weekend. Fellow centre-back William Saliba also returns after suspension, with Ben White dropping to the bench.

Arsenal XI: Raya, Partey, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Saka, Merino, Rice, Martinelli, Trossard, Havertz.

Subs: Neto, White, Zinchenko, Lewis-Skelly, Kiwior, Jorginho, Nwaneri, Sterling, Jesus.

• Newcastle have won two of their last three Premier League home games against Arsenal, as many as they had in the previous 19 meetings at St James' Park.
• The Gunners have dropped points in three of the past five Premier League encounters, following a run of 17 wins in 18 top-flight games versus the Magpies.
• Arsenal's first league defeat last season was a 1-0 loss at Newcastle on 4 November 2023 courtesy of an Anthony Gordon goal.
• Newcastle can win consecutive Premier League home games versus Arsenal for the second time, after a run of three from 1993-94 to 1995-96.

A boost for Newcastle as Alexander Isak is passed fit to start, while Gabriel is named in the Arsenal XI. Bukayo Saka will captain the Gunners.

Full team news to come...

Team news coming right up...

This is how the bottom of the table looks. Newcastle can leap up from 12th to eighth if they beat Arsenal this lunchtime.

Image source, BBC Sport