What a difference a few weeks has made for Arsenal, who are now looking up the Premier League table having appeared to have turned the corner under Mikel Arteta.
Before their crunch match with Chelsea on Boxing Day, Arsenal were on a run of seven league games without a win.
Lose that game, and with the January transfer window approaching, the pressure may have become insurmountable for Arteta.
Thankfully for the Gunners boss they did not lose. Instead they swept aside Chelsea in an impressive 3-1 win and followed it up with consecutive wins and clean sheets against Brighton and West Bromwich Albion.
The 0-0 draw last time out against Crystal Palace was disappointing, but in the context of their entire season it was hardly a stumbling block. Now they come into tonight’s game against Newcastle United full of confidence - and why not?
The Magpies are in dire form and have already suffered defeat at the Emirates Stadium in recent memory, having succumbed 2-0 in the FA Cup on 9 January.
Steve Bruce’s side are winless in six Premier League games, having lost four of those fixtures, and things are looking gloomy on Tyneside.
Arsenal, then, should be confident of repeating their FA Cup result in the 20:00 kick-off in north London.
Having enjoyed a positive run of form, Arteta is not expected to throw in too many curve balls with his selection for this evening’s game.
Bernd Leno will, of course, play in goal, with Hector Bellerin and Rob Holding near-certain starters in front of the German goalkeeper.
With Pablo Mari on the sidelines for a few matches, David Luiz partnered Holding against Palace, but Gabriel is pushing for a start having returned to the bench against Palace.
Kieran Tierney is back in full first-team training after missing the stalemate against Palace with a calf injury, and although they missed him, his immediate return might be a risk Arteta is unwilling to take, meaning Ainsley Maitalnd-Niles continues at left-back.
Granit Xhaka was solid against Palace and should continue in holding midfield, but with Thomas Partey now back fit Dani Ceballos faces competition from the Ghana international and Mohamed Elneny, who we are backing to start this time.
Despite drawing a blank on Thursday, the front four should remain unchanged, giving Emile Smith Rowe another chance to impress in a No 10 role.
Bukayo Saka and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang can provide Alexandre Lacazette with the chances to see the striker return to his scoring form, with Gabriel Martinelli likely to be on the bench after being passed fit.
Here is how we expect Arteta to set his side up tonight.
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Leno; Bellerin, Gabriel, Holding, Maitland-Niles; Xhaka, Elneny; Saka, Smith Rowe, Aubameyang; Lacazette.
