Arsenal: Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny; Monreal; Ramsey, Arteta; Cazorla, Ozil Podolski; Giroud.
Thomas Vermaelen could return to the squad this weekend after recovering from a hamstring injury, though Kieran Gibbs remains sidelined with an ankle problem. Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere and Ryo Miyaichi are all absent, and Abou Diaby is back on the sidelines after picking up a groin problem while playing for the club’s Under-21 side earlier last week.
Newcastle: Krul; Debuchy, Coloccini, Williamson, Dummett; Sissoko, Tioté, Anita, Gouffran; Remy, Shola Ameobi.
Moussa Sissoko has returned to training following a hamstring injury and could be in contention.
Papiss Cisse started out wide against Swansea but was withdrawn early in the first half with a knee problem which will see him miss the remainder of the season.
Luuk De Jong is a doubt having also been forced off with an ankle injury and Shola Ameobi could therefore continue upfront alongside Loic Remy.
Hatem Ben Arfa is also doubtful after he suffered a dead leg in the Stoke defeat having been introduced late on, while Davide Santon is ruled out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury.
Newcastle will look to halt a run of five straight defeats when they travel to the Emirates on Monday evening. The Magpies boss Alan Pardew was boosted by the return of both Loic Remy and Mathieu Debuchy from the bench against Swansea and the pair can be expected to feature from the start again at the Emirates.
Arsenal, on the other hand, have shown signs of revival in recent weeks, having won at Hull and against West Ham and reaching the FA cup final by the skin of their teeth. The North Londoners can now expand their lead over Everton to 4 points, after the Toffees’ defeat at Southampton last Saturday.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger decided to throw Mesut Ozil straight into the starting eleven upon his recovery from injury at Hull last week and is expected to start the German international again alongside Santi Cazorla.
Elsewhere for the hosts, Lukas Podolski’s good performance should see him continue on the left, while Olivier Giroud is expected to play up-top. Aaron Ramsey will partner with Mikel Arteta in central midfield while Nacho Monreal expected to continue at left-back. Tomas Rosicky and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain remain alternative options should Wenger decide to rotate.
Some essential facts to help with online betting:
Arsenal have won their last four Premier League meetings with the Magpies; their best ever run against them in the competition.
The Magpies have lost eight of their last 10 Premier League games at Arsenal (W1 D1); losing 7-3 there last season.
Only against Liverpool (15) have Newcastle lost more Premier League away games than at Arsenal (13).
Lukas Podolski, with 19 goals and 11 assists in the Premier League, has the third best mins per goal involvement in the competition’s history (97 mins), behind Thierry Henry and Sergio Aguero.
Podolski has scored a brace in each of his last two Premier League appearances and has netted five in his last five in the top-flight.
The Magpies have scored just 10 Premier League goals in 2014, fewer than any other side.
Arsenal cannot top the table again this season but will send the season having spent the most days at the summit (128).
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