Mikel Arteta and Aaron Ramsey are ready to return in midfield for Arsenal, but might not both be immediately installed into the starting XI due to the impressive performances of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Tomas Rosicky against AC Milan on Tuesday.
Arsene Wenger is also boosted by the return of Andre Santos, who had spent three months out injured but has been training for six weeks. Kieran Gibbs is also available at left-back.
Abou Diaby will miss out but Yossi Benayoun could feature if he returns to training on Sunday.
Shola Ameobi could return after illness for Newcastle but Peter Lovenkrands has joined Sammy Ameobi and Leon Best on the sidelines. The Denmark forward is likely to miss the rest of the season after suffering a suspected ruptured thigh muscle.
Midfielder Sylvain Marveaux and defender Steven Taylor are other long-term absentees.
- The Gunners go into this match five points ahead of Newcastle in fourth place. A victory could leave them only a point behind Tottenham after Harry Redknapp’s side were beaten at Goodison Park by Everton.
- Embroiled in speculation regarding the future of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, Arsenal drew 0-0 with Newcastle on the opening day of the season. Gervinho (pictured right) was sent off for tangling with Joey Barton, who has since left Tyneside for Queens Park Rangers.
- Arsenal have not beaten Newcastle in the Premier League in their last three meetings, last winning in March 2009, although they did emerge 4-0 winners in the League Cup last season.
- The fixture has not ended in a goalless draw at Arsenal since October 1999.
- Newcastle just have the edge in the historical head-to-head of the two sides. They have won 66 fixtures to Arsenal’s 65, with 38 draws.
- Andy Carroll’s goal was enough to secure a 1-0 victory last season at the Emirates Stadium in November 2010.
- Newcastle have not won consecutive games away to Arsenal since victories in 1956 and 1957, however.
- Before Carroll’s winning goal, Newcastle had not won in any competition away to Arsenal since December 2001. Andy O’Brien, Alan Shearer and Laurent Robert scored the goals in a 3-1 win for the Magpies, though Arsenal went on to win the Double, knocking Newcastle out of the FA Cup along the way.
- Newcastle have taken advantage of three red cards awarded to Arsenal players in their last three meetings; Gervinho, Abou Diaby and Laurent Koscielny have all been dismissed.