Eddie Howe to make TWO changes? - Predicted Newcastle side to start at Arsenal

With our first game of 2023 fast approaching, it's time to predict how we'll line up for tonight's top of the table clash with Arsenal at the Emirates.

Keeping form, fitness and the busy schedule in mind, here's the side we think Eddie Howe could go with:

(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn – Willock, Guimaraes, Joelinton – Almiron, Wilson, Saint-Maximin.

Howe hasn’t rotated much in recent months, tending to stick with a winning side, but I’d be surprised if there wasn’t a couple of changes from our 0-0 draw with Leeds.

As always these days, we put in a big shift at the weekend and haven’t been given a big turnaround here. I don’t see our back four changing after six clean sheets in our last seven games, but I think two big guns may return in attack.

Chris Wood was poor on Saturday and Joelinton also failed to make the most of the space he was afforded against Leeds. I can see a fit-again Callum Wilson coming back in up top, Allan Saint-Maximin returning down our left and Joelinton dropping back into midfield in Sean Longstaff’s place.

There's every chance Howe looks to nullify their threats by keeping Joelinton out wide - who could protect Dan Burn up against Bukayo Saka - but a well rested ASM could cause Chaos against an out-of-position Ben White.

As for Longstaff potentially being dropped, our local lad had a second half to forget last weekend after a period of good form, also looking leggy in the closing stages. Joelinton’s physicality and Willock’s pace on the counter could also be key against an equally sprightly Arsenal side.