Overview

• Arsenal travel to Tyneside seeking to cut a five-point gap to Liverpool, which could widen to eight depending on the champions' earlier game at Crystal Palace.
• Mikel Arteta praised Newcastle's home atmosphere and stressed the need to be much more efficient and dominant to take points at St James' Park.
• Arsenal enter with standout defensive numbers, having conceded only one goal from open play in the league this season.
• Recent trips have been difficult for the Gunners, with four defeats in their last five visits to St James' Park and no goals scored there in their past three.
• Team news includes a late fitness check for captain Martin Odegaard, continued absences for Noni Madueke and Kai Havertz, and Bukayo Saka's return to the starting XI in midweek.