Newcastle vs Arsenal: Match Preview, Team News & Likely Line-Ups
Date: Sunday, 29 December; Venue: St James' Park, Newcastle Upon Tyne; Kickoff: 13:30
Newcastle United have not won a home game with Arsenal for over eight years. Nolberto Solano scored the winner and Gilberto Silva was sent off for the Gunners the last time the Toon vanquished this London opposition at St James' Park.
This fixture tends to go one of two ways it's either a tight contest or a goal-fest. Two of the last five meetings have contained a 4-4 draw and 7-3 win at the Emirates for Arsenal.
Alan Pardew's Magpies have hit form, suffering just one defeat in nine outings since successive losses to bitter rivals Sunderland and Manchester City in the Capital One Cup at the end of October. Seven wins thereafter have included victories over Premier League heavyweights Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United. Newcastle have scored eight goals over Christmas, including five against nine-man Stoke on Boxing Day. By contrast, the Gunners ended a four-match winless run with three points at West Ham on Thursday. Arsene Wenger has seen his options cut by injuries as the festive fixtures have taken their toll, leading him to be linked with moves for Toon players Loic Remy and Yohan Cabaye.