Thomas Partey makes his return to the side for Arsenal's game against Newcastle.
The Ghanaian has completed 90 minutes for the Gunners just twice since his deadline day arrival from Atletico Madrid and last started a game on December 6th where he picked up a recurrence of his thigh strain against Spurs.
Partey is joined in the starting XI by Kieran Tierney who is deemed fit enough to play after missing the game against Crystal Palace with muscle fatigue.
Gabriel was available following his return after testing positive for COVID-19 but it is David Luiz who keeps his place at left centre back for the Gunners. The 23-year-old is on the bench though.
He is joined by his compatriot Gabriel Martinelli who has not made it back from his own absence in time to start the match.
That means that Mikel Arteta keeps the same front four that started the victory over West Brom and the draw against Palace, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Emile Smith Rowe, Bukayo Saka and Alex Lacazette all starting the match.
Cedric also replaces Hector Bellerin at right back.
Arteta will be hoping his side can break down Newcastle in 90 minutes this time after it took extra time to get past them in the FA Cup third round nine days ago.
Speaking before the match Arteta revealed what his side need to do in order to break the Magpies down.
"Well we did a lot of good things there, but we didn't have the capacity to put the ball in the net in our situations that we created," he said of the cup match last Saturday.
"Against them, be ruthless in front of goal. The moment we created the chances, the mindset to attack them as much as possible, hit the target as many times as we possibly can, and we'll be fine."
Arsenal will be hoping to get back to winning ways after a frustrating draw against Crystal Palace ended their four match winning streak last time out.
Full Arsenal starting XI: Leno; Cedric, Holding, Luiz, Tierney; Xhaka, Partey; Saka, Smith Rowe, Aubameyang; Lacazette
