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
