The international break is over and Arsenal’s Premier League campaign recommences with a fixture against Newcastle – a tie that has often proved a number of memorable games and moments in the recent past.
Unai Emery’s side have not made the start they would have wished to the season, with two wins and two defeats planting them firmly int mid-table while their opponents for the late kick off have taken only a point thus far and find themselves in the relegation zone after the first four games.
It is, therefore, an important fixture to launch the season of both teams as the loser will find themselves in hot water early on.
Here is all the essential information.
| Game | Newcastle vs Arsenal |
| Date | Saturday, September 15 |
| Time | 3pm BST / 10am EST |
TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch
In the United States (US), the game will be shown on NBC Sports Gold and streamed online via the NBC Sports Live app .
| US TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| NBC Sports Gold | NBC Sports Live |
The game cannot be watched live on television or streamed online in the United Kingdom (UK) due to the '3pm blackout' period. However, live updates will be available on Goal here .
| UK TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| n/a | n/a |
Squads & Team News
| Position | Newcastle players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Dubravka, Darlow, Elliot, Woodman |
| Defenders | Fernandez, Schar, Clark, Lascelles, Yedlin, Dummett, Lejeune, Manquillo, Sterry |
| Midfielders | Ki, Diame, Shelvey, Ritchie, Murphy, Atsu, Aarons, Hayden, Kenedy, Longstaff |
| Forwards | Rondon, Joselu, Perez, Muto |
Florian Lejeune will miss out for the home side because of a knee injury. Meanwhile, there are doubts over the availability of Javier Manquillo, Salomon Rondon and DeAndre Yedlin. The latter two of this trio have simply returned back from international duty late.
Matt Ritchie and Jonjo Shelvey are back in training and are expected to play.
Confirmed Newcastle starting XI: Dubravka; Yedlin, Lascelles, Fernandez, Dummett; Diame, Hayden, Murphy; Ritchie, Perez, Joselu
| Position | Arsenal players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Cech, Leno, Martinez |
| Defenders | Bellerin, Sokratis, Lichtsteiner, Mustafi, Holding, Monreal, Mavropanos |
| Midfielders | Elneny, Mkhitaryan, Ramsey, Torreira, Ozil, Iwobi, Guendouzi, Xhaka |
| Forwards | Lacazette, Aubameyang, Welbeck |
Arsenal have a handful of injury problems to give Unai Emery a minor headache. Sead Kolasinac is expected back next month from a knee problems and Carl Jenkinson in November from an ankle issue. Laurent Koscielny continues to nurse his Achilles, while Ainsley Maitland-Niles is missing, too.
Alex Iwobi is expected back after illness.
Confirmed Arsenal starting XI: Cech; Bellerin, Mustafi, Papastathopoulos, Monreal; Guendouzi, Xhaka; Ozil, Ramsey, Aubameyang; Lacazette
Betting & Match Odds
Arsenal are 10/11 favourites with Bet365, while Newcastle are priced at 16/5. Meanwhile, the draw can be backed at 14/5.
Match Preview
Newcastle against Arsenal at St James’ Park has been a fixture that has provided some magical moments down the years. There was Dennis Bergkamp’s outrageous goal in 2002 and Newcastle’s stunning comeback to draw 4-4 from 4-0 down, but in recent seasons the fixture has become tighter and more conservative.
All of the last five matches between these teams have been decided by a single goal, with Arsenal winning 10 straight until they lost at St James’ 2-1 in April.
For Arsenal boss Unai Emery, continuing a run that has seen them beat West Ham and Cardiff in successive matches is all important.
“Our aim away at Newcastle on Saturday now is to keep improving things and continue to create our idea, build up our spirit on the pitch, individually and collectively,” he said. “Saturday is another step, it will be difficult but I want to continue to show our personality and impose this on the opposition.”
Home manager Rafael Benitez, meanwhile, has maintained that his side still have faith in what they are trying to achieve, despite a slow start to the season.
“I think confidence is high in terms of mentality, team spirit and the way we work,” he said.
"We know that we have to win, and with every game we are closer. We are playing against a very good team but we have to approach it with the belief that we can do what we did last year.”
Arsenal are chasing their first consecutive away wins in the Premier League since May 2017 and if they can secure that against determined hosts, suddenly their position will not look so bad after all.