Mikel Arteta has returned to his typical strong starting XI for the Gunners and rightly so. Arsenal face a very difficult Newcastle side at St. James' Park and will need to perform at their maximum to get the desired result, especially in light of title rivals Manchester City running riot against Bournemouth.
The key change to the starting XI from the 5-0 win over Sheffield United in the previous league game is Takehiro Tomiyasu, who replaces Oleksandr Zinchenko. The Japanese international has been exceptional and his astute defensive abilities and surprising attacking forays will be key for Arsenal today.
David Raya returns in goal from the midweek League Cup defeat to West Ham where Aaron Ramsdale conceded three times. Ben White, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes reunite in defence for what has become the undroppable trio from the back line.
Into midfield and Arteta had a choice to make between Kai Havertz and Jorginho and he went with both. This makes sense considering the Italian started against both Manchester City and Chelsea – two other tough tests in which, especially against City, Jorginho impressed but certainly less so in West London.
READ MORE: Arsenal news and transfers LIVE - Early team hint, Ivan Toney talks, injury update
READ MORE: Newcastle United vs Arsenal LIVE - Storm Ciaran warning, live stream, team news and score updates
However, the surprise is that Havertz comes into the right attacking midfield role where perhaps Martin Odegaard would have been expected to start, but the Gunners captain misses out with an apparent injury despite playing in midweek.
Eddie Nketiah maintains his spot after scoring a hat-trick last week and delivering here would be a serious boost to his reputation. Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are back and ready to take the game to the Magpies.
Arsenal confirmed starting XI vs Newcastle: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu; Jorginho, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli.
Subs: Ramsdale, Hein, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Cedric, Elneny, Vieira, Trossard, Nelson.
