Newcastle United v Arsenal: Premier League – live | Premier League

18 min: Arsenal have responded well to falling behind, in so much as they’ve re-established their dominance of possession. Martinelli and Havertz combine nicely down the left, the latter standing one up for Saka at the far stick. Saka beats Hall in the jump, but can only waft a header wide right. “What a buildup,” writes Mary Waltz. “Gordon’s cross so lovely, Isak’s header a thunderbolt. A textbook example of attacking football. Brilliant!”

16 min: A worrying stat for Arsenal flashed up by TNT Sports: Newcastle are one of only three Premier League teams yet to drop a point from a winning position this season. Liverpool and Manchester United are the other two.

15 min: Nope. Rice’s delivery, towards a crowded Toon box, fails to beat the first man. The hosts clear their lines.

14 min: That was a proper old-school cross and header. Perfectly executed. Arsenal had been the better side in the early exchanges as well. Can Arsenal respond immediately, having won a free kick out on the right?

Newcastle have done nothing in attack … until now, and this goal is an absolute peach! A bit of space for Gordon down the right. He sends an out-swinger into the box, perfectly onto Isak’s head, ten yards out. Isak rises gracefully before planting an unstoppable header across Raya and into the top-left corner. That was glorious. So simple, but glorious.

11 min: Arsenal are on top. A simple long pass down the middle finds Timber on the edge of the Newcastle box. He feeds Saka to his right. Saka steps away from Hall before flashing a low drive inches wide of the right-hand post. Had it been on target, Pope might not have been set to respond to that. The keeper looked on his heels.

9 min: Now it’s Arsenal’s turn for a corner, Trossard’s presence forcing Longstaff into its concession down the left. Rice curls it viciously into the six-yard box, a magnificently dangerous delivery that Pope does extremely well to claw off his line and away from danger.

7 min: The crowd descend into, to borrow a phrase from Brass Eye, a low miff. That’s because Raya and Arsenal take their sweet time over a kick upfield.

5 min: … so having said that, Newcastle suddenly spring into life. Joelinton, Longstaff and Willock combine smoothly down the left to win the first corner of the game. Gordon swings it in. Havertz heads clear, but that’s got the crowd going, just as Eddie Howe requested.

4 min: By contrast it’s a quiet start for the hosts. They’ve barely had a touch yet.

2 min: Arsenal don’t waste time in pushing forward. A bit of early probing on the edge of the Newcastle box, Partey and Saka heavily involved. Then finally a shot, Trossard dragging a low diagonal effort yards wide right.

Newcastle get the ball rolling. They’re playing towards the Gallowgate End in this first half.

… but not before a rendition of the Last Post, with Remembrance Sunday upcoming. RIP the fallen. All perfectly observed, applause ripping through the silence at the end.

The teams are out! Newcastle in black and white, Arsenal in red and white. They always look good, these two. John Lennon’s artist’s eye rarely let him down. On that subject, the coda of one his old combo’s toppermost-of-poppermost hits pours out of the St James’ Park speakers. Then Mark Knopfler’s paean to Pennan. Choice tracks and a rare old atmosphere. We’ll be off in a minute.

Eddie Howe’s turn to chat with TNT. “Your intent and attitude has to be spot on in ever game … our first few actions against Chelsea [in the League Cup] were really good, it set the tone and got the crowd in the match … we’re going to need the same again today … I’m trying to manage everyone’s game-load … Sandro misses out from the start but will be important from the bench … it will be competitive … last year we were strong, resolute, resilient … we’ll need those qualities against an outstanding team.”

Pre-match postbag. “I had big hopes for Mikel Merino during his short time at Newcastle, but it never quite worked out for whatever reason. He’s such an easy player to watch, got that smoothness you associate with Spanish midfielders, to go with a bit of bite. I like what Eddie Howe has done with the lineup and despite the literal cries for Tonali to always play, Longstaff allows the two Brazilians more confidence to roam. Anyway, both of these clubs have the most cringeworthy ‘Adidas: Originals Reboot’ training and casual range for sale. You can get the original versions on Ebay and they smell more like the 90s” – Chris Paraskevas

“The star attraction of an Arsenal game these days is betting on (in non-monetary friendly banter) if Arteta will receive a yellow or a red. Arteta would benefit by taking lessons from one Don Carlo Ancelotti” – Krishnamoorthy V (who may or may not have missed Ancelotti all hot-faced last weekend, pompously wagging a finger in Hansi Flick’s face when Barcelona’s bench reacted to goal number four)

Mikel Arteta is asked about Arsenal’s upcoming Newcastle-Inter-Chelsea run by TNT Sports. “That’s the beauty of it, to play these big matches in beautiful stadiums against great opponents … that’s what we want … Gabi trained yesterday so is fit … Ben [White] didn’t make it, he only had half a session yesterday, we have to protect him … to play with 11 players is critical … the games are decided by fine margins … the team can adapt to any scenario … we lost momentum [against Liverpool] … the belief is 100 percent … today is a really good scenario for us.”

Arteta also thanks both the Premier League and Newcastle for allowing and supporting the wearing of black armbands today, in the wake of the Spain floods disaster. “It is terrible what has happened … a big mess … the message we can send is something very positive and I am very grateful for that.”

Both sides could do with the three points this lunchtime, to rediscover some form if nothing else. Newcastle were buoyed by their League Cup victory over Chelsea during the week, but they’re five without a win in the Premier League. Arsenal also enjoyed some Carabou-infused fun midweek, swanning past Preston, but otherwise haven’t been their usual imperious selves of late: they’re two without a win in the Premier League, while recent victories over Leicester, Southampton and Shakhtar Donetsk caused more stress along the way than was perhaps necessary. Here’s where everyone stands in the big picture.

Newcastle make three changes to the team that started the 2-1 defeat at Chelsea last weekend. Anthony Gordon, Joe Willock and Sean Longstaff come in for Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes and Miguel Almirón, all of whom drop to the bench. Injury worry Alexander Isak makes it.

Arsenal make one change to their XI after the 2-2 draw with Liverpool. William Saliba is back from the suspension he picked up at Bournemouth, so Ben White makes way by dropping to the bench. Gabriel and Jurriën Timber have both shrugged off injury issues to start.

Newcastle United: Pope, Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall, Longstaff, Guimaraes, Willock, Gordon, Isak, Joelinton.
Subs: Dubravka, Tonali, Barnes, Krafth, Osula, Almiron, Kelly, Alex Murphy, Miley.

Arsenal: Raya, Partey, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Saka, Merino, Rice, Martinelli, Havertz, Trossard.
Subs: Neto, White, Gabriel Jesus, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Sterling, Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri.

Referee: John Brooks (Leicestershire).

It’s the Walls and Bridges derby! Whatever gets you through lunchtime, s’alright.

A lot has happened between Newcastle and Arsenal since young Winston O’Boogie illustrated that FA Cup final. George Eastham, Marc Overmars and Nicolas Anelka, Cheik Tioté, all that. So let’s just fast forward to last November, when this blew up in everyone’s startled coupon …

… and we never heard the end of it for aeons. That was a rare victory for Toon against the Gunners, who went on to avenge their loss with a 4-1 rout at the Emirates three months later; Arsenal have therefore won nine of the last 12 Premier League matches against Newcastle. So depending which way you slice it, recent history either favours the hosts or visitors. No need to thank us, we’re here to help, but suffice to say it’s set up nicely: Newcastle need to haul themselves back into the race for Europe, while Arsenal are desperate to keep on Manchester City and Liverpool’s tail. Kick-off is at 12.30pm GMT. It’s on!