Preview: Arsenal v. Newcastle United

RVP had a brace in this fixture when it was last played two years ago. Pic via Daily Mail.
 
Emirates Stadium, London

Sunday, November 7

13:30 GMT, 8:30 a.m. EST

• Referee: Mike Dean
• This Match, Last Time: Arsenal 3 - 0 Newcastle (August 30, 2008)
• All-Time in All Competitions: 65 Arsenal wins, 65 Newcastle wins, 36 draws
• Arsenal's Recent Form: D-L-L-W-W-W
• Newcastle's Recent Form: W-L-L-D-W-W

Predicted Line-Up

guesses in red

Fabianski

Sagna - Koscielny - Squillaci - Clichy

Song - Wilshere

Walcott - Fabregas - Nasri

Chamakh

Subs from: Szczesny, Djourou, Eboue, Denilson, Rosicky, Arshavin, Bendtner

Out: Gibbs (knee), Diaby (ankle), Almunia (elbow), Vermaelen (Achilles), Van Persie (ankle), Ramsey (broken leg)

Arsenal News and Notes

• All four players who dropped out of the Shakhtar trip with injuries (Fabregas, Song, Denilson, and Arshavin) return for this match, which lends more credence to my rotation conspiracy theory. Still, better to lose that match than this one.
• Abou Diaby's ankle injury does not seem to be progressing and Arsene Wenger says he does not know when he'll return.
• Jack Wilshere returns from his three match domestic ban.
• I'd like to see Walcott start over Arshavin, but something tells me that the Russian still won't be dropped from the starting XI.
• If Laurent Koscielny picks up a booking, he'll have five yellow cards this season and will have to serve a one match ban for accumulation.
• Arsenal had their five match winning streak across all competitions snapped in Donetsk on Wednesday, but have still won three straight in league play.
• That streak ties their longest league winning streak of the season. Arsenal's longest league winning streak last year was six games. Their longest winning streak two years ago was five, though that came towards the end of a 21 match unbeaten run.
• The last time Arsenal dropped points to more than one newly promoted side at home was 2001/02, with draws against Bolton and Blackburn.
• In terms of dropping points via one draw and one loss to newly promoted sides, the last time that happened was 1994/95. The loss was to Crystal Palace, the draw was with Leicester City.
• The last time Arsenal lost twice at home to newly promoted sides was 1976/77 with losses against West Bromwich Albion and Bristol City. They also drew newly promoted Sunderland.

Newcastle News and Notes

• While it would have been interesting, the return of Sol Campbell is doubtful for this match, given his fitness, in addition to not being top choice at the position at Newcastle.
• The Toon have three other long term injuries: Hartem Ben Arfa (double leg fracture), goalkeeper Steve Harper (broken collarbone), and Dan Gosling (ACL.)
• Through ten games, Newcastle sit in 7th place in the Premier League. The last time Newcastle was this high this late in the season was 2005/06, when they happened to finish 7th.
• The Magpies have won consecutive league fixtures for the first time since December of 2008, the season which ended in relegation.
• They are also coming off a huge 5-1 derby win over Sunderland, their largest derby victory since 1955.

Match Facts

• Arsenal defeated Newcastle United 4-0 in the fourth round of the Carling Cup at St. James' Park a week and a half ago.
• The Gunners took all six points two years ago, when Newcastle was relegated. Arsenal won 3-0 at the Emirates and 3-1 in the North East.
• Newcastle last defeated Arsenal 1-0 at St. James' Park on December 10, 2005.
• Arsenal are unbeaten in their last nine across all competitions against the Magpies.
• Newcastle's last win at Arsenal came on December 18, 2001, 3-1 at Highbury.

The Referee

• The referee is Mike Dean.
• Dean took charge of Arsenal's 2-0 loss at Chelsea last month and Arsenal dropped points in all four fixtures he worked for them last year.
• Dean has not worked a Newcastle match since their 1-1 draw with West Brom last year in the Championship.

Around the League

• Saturday: Bolton Wanderers v. Tottenham Hotspur; Reebok Stadium, Bolton
• Saturday: Birmingham City v. West Ham United; St. Andrew's, Birmingham
• Saturday: Blackburn Rovers v. Wigan Athletic; Ewood Park, Blackburn
• Saturday: Blackpool v. Everton; Bloomfield Road, Blackpool
• Saturday: Fulham v. Aston Villa; Craven Cottage, London
• Saturday: Manchester United v. Wolverhampton Wanderers; Old Trafford, Manchester
• Saturday: Sunderland v. Stoke City; Stadium of Light, Sunderland
• Sunday: West Bromwich Albion v. Manchester City; The Hawthorns, West Bromwich
• Sunday: Liverpool v. Chelsea; Anfield, Liverpool