IT’S GAME TIME
Hello, good morning and welcome to SunSport’s live coverage of Arsenal vs Newcastle in the Premier League.
The Gunners are looking to get back to winning ways after a 10-match unbeaten run ended abruptly at Anfield last weekend.
As for Newcastle, it has been touch and go as to whether Eddie Howe would be on the touchline after being appointed Toon boss.
The former Bournemouth man has been self isolating for 10 days in a hotel on Tyneside and has been allowed to leave as of midnight on Saturday.
But SunSport understands he WILL head south to North London for this clash, with the Magpies winless in 12 Premier League games this season.
All of their six points so far have come courtesy of half a dozen draws.
Howe has one heck of a job on his hands if he is to turn around the sitaution at Newcastle, and after his Covid scare, he will be hoping his side catch the winning bug.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are looking to continue their steady climb up the table, which was arrested by the defeat at Anfield.
And they will not have many better chances than today, against a side rooted to the bottom of the table.
Granit Xhaka is still injured after damaging knee ligaments in the win over Tottenham and Saed Kolasinac is still unavailable.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is looking for some end product out of frustrating winger Nicolas Pepe.
He said: “We will see in the next few seasons if he is capable of achieving what we expect from him. But that is a difficult answer, not only with him but with any player.
“The value-for-money question is very particular. Is it just for individual performance or do you put their collective performance too? Because to pay money for a player – and you are in the Champions League – is value for money.”
