Premier League preview: Arsenal welcome Newcastle to Emirates Stadium

Arsenal will be looking to pile more pressure on Alan Pardew and Newcastle

Arsenal will be aiming to cement their standing in fourth place when they play host to out-of-sorts Newcastle United.

Arsene Wenger's side saw Southampton offer their claims to a UEFA Champions League spot a welcome shot in the arm on Saturday as they overcame Everton.

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Arsenal v Newcastle

Arsenal are now one point clear of the men from Merseyside with a game in hand - meaning they could take another sizeable step towards preserving their seat at European football's top table on Monday.
Their home record against Newcastle in the Premier League era is favourable, with seven goals plundered during a memorable encounter last season.
Newcastle's form over recent weeks also suggests that the north London natives will take to their seats at Emirates Stadium in expectant mood.
Five straight defeats have threatened to undermine the good work put in by the North East outfit earlier in the campaign, with their season in serious danger of fizzling out.
Manager Alan Pardew has been forced to watch on from afar as his side have imploded, and pressure from a disgruntled fan base has mounted on his shoulders with each passing fixture.
He will, however, be back in the dugout against Arsenal after serving a seven-match stadium and touchline ban.
Whether his presence can inspire Newcastle to greater things remains to be seen, but an improvement will be demanded as a top-half standing which looked so secure a few weeks ago comes under threat.

Paul Merson's prediction

Arsenal have turned another corner and if you look back, I think it has all hinged on the fitness of Aaron Ramsey. If he had been available all the way through, then I think their season would have been a different story. They look like a completely different team with him in it.
I think most teams that play Newcastle between now and the end of the season will expect three points with the way they are playing. They are in the middle of the table and simply can't win a football match for toffee. This is a fairly easy prediction for me - it has to be an easy home win.
PAUL PREDICTS: 4-0

Arsenal

Last 6

Arsenal expect to have captain Thomas Vermaelen back from a hamstring problem.

Midfielder Abou Diaby will not be rushed into a return from a serious knee injury after reporting a slight groin problem after playing for the U21s last week.
Defender Kieran Gibbs (hamstring) is still sidelined along with England midfielder Jack Wilshere (foot), Serge Gnabry and Theo Walcott (both knee).

Newcastle

Last 6

Newcastle midfielders Moussa Sissoko and Hatem Ben Arfa are back in the squad.

Sissoko (hamstring) and Ben Arfa (dead leg) are both available to boost Pardew's options as he tries to break out of a serious slump.
However, strikers Papiss Cisse (knee) and Luuk de Jong) are out, leaving Pardew with only Loic Remy, who returned from a calf problem as a substitute against Swansea last weekend, Shola Ameobi and youngster Adam Armstrong at his disposal.

Opta stats

Arsenal have won their last four Premier League meetings with the Magpies; their best ever run against them in the competition.
Only against Liverpool (15) have Newcastle lost more Premier League away games than at Arsenal (13).
The Magpies have scored just 10 Premier League goals in 2014, fewer than any other side.

Previous game's starting line-ups

evious game's starting line-ups

4-2-3-1

1 Szczesny
3 Sagna
4 Mertesacker
6 Koscielny
17 Monreal
8 Arteta
16 Ramsey
19 Cazorla
11 Ozil
9 Podolski
12 Giroud
- Newcastle United
4-2-3-1
- 1 Krul
- 8 Anita
- 6 Williamson
- 2 Coloccini
- 36 Dummett
- 15 Gosling
- 24 Tiote
- 9 Cisse
- 18 de Jong L
- 11 Gouffran