Key events
Mikel Arteta is asked about Arsenal’s upcoming Newcastle-Inter-Chelsea run by TNT Sports. “That’s the beauty of it, to play these big matches in beautiful stadiums against great opponents … that’s what we want … Gabi trained yesterday so is fit … Ben [White] didn’t make it, he only had half a session yesterday, we have to protect him … to play with 11 players is critical … the games are decided by fine margins … the team can adapt to any scenario … we lost momentum [against Liverpool] … the belief is 100 percent … today is a really good scenario for us.”
Arteta also thanks both the Premier League and Newcastle for allowing and supporting the wearing of black armbands today, in the wake of the Spain floods disaster. “It is terrible what has happened … a big mess … the message we can send is something very positive and I am very grateful for that.”
Both sides could do with the three points this lunchtime, to rediscover some form if nothing else. Newcastle were buoyed by their League Cup victory over Chelsea during the week, but they’re five without a win in the Premier League. Arsenal also enjoyed some Carabou-infused fun midweek, swanning past Preston, but otherwise haven’t been their usual imperious selves of late: they’re two without a win in the Premier League, while recent victories over Leicester, Southampton and Shakhtar Donetsk caused more stress along the way than was perhaps necessary. Here’s where everyone stands in the big picture.
Newcastle make three changes to the team that started the 2-1 defeat at Chelsea last weekend. Anthony Gordon, Joe Willock and Sean Longstaff come in for Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes and Miguel Almirón, all of whom drop to the bench. Injury worry Alexander Isak makes it.
Arsenal make one change to their XI after the 2-2 draw with Liverpool. William Saliba is back from the suspension he picked up at Bournemouth, so Ben White makes way by dropping to the bench. Gabriel and Jurriën Timber have both shrugged off injury issues to start.
The teams
Newcastle United: Pope, Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall, Longstaff, Guimaraes, Willock, Gordon, Isak, Joelinton.
Subs: Dubravka, Tonali, Barnes, Krafth, Osula, Almiron, Kelly, Alex Murphy, Miley.
Arsenal: Raya, Partey, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Saka, Merino, Rice, Martinelli, Havertz, Trossard.
Subs: Neto, White, Gabriel Jesus, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Sterling, Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri.
Referee: John Brooks (Leicestershire).
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
🧱 Saliba partners Gabriel
👊 Merino in the middle
©️ Saka skippers the sideLet’s leave it all out there, Gunners 😤
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) November 2, 2024
Preamble
It’s the Walls and Bridges derby! Whatever gets you through lunchtime, s’alright.
A lot has happened between Newcastle and Arsenal since young Winston O’Boogie illustrated that FA Cup final. George Eastham, Marc Overmars and Nicolas Anelka, Cheik Tioté, all that. So let’s just fast forward to last November, when this blew up in everyone’s startled coupon …
… and we never heard the end of it for aeons. That was a rare victory for Toon against the Gunners, who went on to avenge their loss with a 4-1 rout at the Emirates three months later; Arsenal have therefore won nine of the last 12 Premier League matches against Newcastle. So depending which way you slice it, recent history either favours the hosts or visitors. No need to thank us, we’re here to help, but suffice to say it’s set up nicely: Newcastle need to haul themselves back into the race for Europe, while Arsenal are desperate to keep on Manchester City and Liverpool’s tail. Kick-off is at 12.30pm GMT. It’s on!