Arsenal (H) Pre-match thoughts, team news, possible line-ups & prediction

Five games remaining. Five finals for Newcastle United - and perhaps just seven points needed to secure Champions League football.

Liverpool can go just three points behind us should they beat Brentford today, but we'll have two games in hand on the Reds. The fight for the top-four remains well and truly in our hands, giving us a huge incentive to beat a title-chasing Arsenal tomorrow.

The visitors have been outstanding this season, yet they've started shipping goals, throwing away leads and showing signs of weakness that just didn't seem to exist a few months ago - all while Eddie Howe's Mags have come on strong, winning eight from nine and scoring 13 goals in our last three league games.

This is a different Gunners side to the one that crumbled at St James' Park last May, where we played them off the park in a 2-0 win that left them outside the top four. 12 months later, a win over Mikel Arteta's much-improved Arsenal would all but secure our place amongst Europe's elite.

Here's what Howe's had to say ahead of the game:

"We're competing against elite teams who will fight to the end and we have to do the same. In our five games we need to give our best preparation and focus to because the fight we're in could go right to the end of the season.

"All season we haven't focused on where we are, who's around us, form of teams - we've just focused on ourselves and that's all we can do. We have a tough run of fixtures but I think at the same time a great run of fixtures because every game is important. They're great occasions and we look to carry on our good form."

Team news

Allan Saint-Maximin (hamstring) could return to the bench after resuming training and a late call will be made on Sean Longstaff (foot).

Jamaal Lascelles (calf) has been ruled out for the season, with Emil Krafth (ACL) and Ryan Fraser (training with our U21s) also set to miss out once again.

For the visitors, William Saliba (back) has been ruled out once again, while centre-back partner Gabriel Magalhaes is facing a late fitness test after he was forced off in midweek.

Predicted line ups

(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn – Longstaff, Bruno, Willock – Murphy, Isak, Joelinton.

The back five picks itself these days, but Howe will be faced with a few selection dilemmas should Sean Longstaff be passed fit.

If he's ready to play, I'm confident he starts alongside Bruno G and Joe Willock in midfield, with Joelinton continuing down our left; where he can also help Dan Burn cope with Bukayo Saka.

It would then be Isak or Wilson and Murphy or Miggy for the final two spots in attack. If so, I see our unplayable Swede keeping his place along with much-improved Murphy; although we could see Isak on the left and Wilson up top should Longstaff miss out (which would result in Joelinton dropping back into midfield).

Gordon remains an option, but he's still learning how to play in our system and doesn't look quite up to speed physically, so I can't see him starting this one.

Prediction

If they are without BOTH of their first choice centre-backs, I think the likes of Isak and/or Wilson could cause havoc, although I get the feeling Gabriel will start. Even then, will he be at 100%? I'm not so sure.

I expect us to come out the traps quickly, put them under pressure and not allow them to settle. An early goal could be massive - either way, I'm expecting the atmosphere to be electric.

Isak to score and Willock to shine against his former club in a tight win on Tyneside - all but securing a top-four finish and ending Arsenal's title hopes.

Prediction: Newcastle 2-1 Arsenal

HWTL! - and don't forget your black and white scarf!