Newcastle vs Arsenal LIVE: Line up confirmed, Nicolas Pepe decision, Premier League latest

NEWCASTLE vs ARSENAL

  • Arsenal have won 12 of their last 13 matches against Newcastle
  • The Magpies have only kept two clean sheets in this fixture since 2007
  • Newcastle manager Steve Bruce has lost a career-worst 19 games against Arsenal
  • The Gunners have lost four of the last six season-opening Premier League matches

Newcastle XI: Dubravka, Manquillo, Scar, Lascelles, Dummett, Ritchie, Shelvey, Hayden, Longstaff, Almiron, Joelinton

Arsenal XI: Leno, Maitland-Niles, Chambers, Sokratis, Monreal, Guendouzi, Xhaka, Willock, Mkhitaryan, Nelson, Aubamyenag

The sides…

13:00: Nicolas Pepe starts on the bench for Unai Emery, and he’s joined there by fellow summer recruit David Luiz. Full analysis coming up.

Newcastle XI: Dubravka, Manquillo, Scar, Lascelles, Dummett, Ritchie, Shelvey, Hayden, Longstaff, Almiron, Joelinton.

Subs: Darlow, Clark, Saint-Maximin, Muto, Willems, Krafth, Fernandez.

Arsenal XI: Leno, Maitland-Niles, Chambers, Sokratis, Monreal, Guendouzi, Xhaka, Willock, Mkhitaryan, Nelson, Aubamyenag.

Subs: Martinez, Ceballos, Lacazette, Torreira, Pepe, Luiz, Martinelli.

Yesterday

12:55: What did you think about yesterday’s action then?

I think a few results and performances stood out in particular with Manchester City absolutely destroying West Ham 5-0 at the London Stadium.

They were frighteningly good if I’m honest.

Comprehensive wins for Burnley and Brighton, who thumped Southampton and Watford 3-0. Spurs not particularly impressive but were without a host of first-team stars.

Let me know what you thought through the usual channels. You know ‘em – Twitter, Facebook, Homing pigeon…

Afternoon

12:50: Hello folks and welcome to our LIVE coverage of Newcastle vs Arsenal from St James’ Park.

How’s everyone feeling today? I made the fatal error of playing catch-up with a few friends last night. Y’know – when you have to drink at double your normal rate and quickly realise you’ve made a terrible mistake.

Anyway, enough about my hangover.

You’re here to see whether it’ll be Unai Emery or Steve Bruce having a celebratory glass of sherry tonight.

The team news and line-ups will be dropping any moment now – so let’s get this show on the road. Standby…

NEWCASTLE vs ARSENAL – TEAM NEWS

Newcastle midfielder Matt Ritchie will be available provided he does not suffer a reaction to his return to training after a hamstring injury.

DeAndre Yedlin (groin) and striker Dwight Gayle (calf) remain on the sidelines along with defender Florian Lejeune (knee).

New head coach Steve Bruce could hand competitive debuts to summer signings Joelinton, Allan Saint-Maximin and Jetro Willems but Emil Krafth only trained with the squad for the first time on Friday while Andy Carroll is lacking match fitness.

New Arsenal signing Kieran Tierney (groin) will not make his bow while there are doubts over fellow recent recruits Dani Ceballos (ankle), David Luiz and Nicolas Pepe (both fitness).

Alexandre Lacazette has returned to training after an ankle injury but could also be absent, with Konstantinos Mavropanos and Emile Smith Rowe (both groin), Hector Bellerin and Rob Holding (both knee) and Mohamed Elneny (fitness) all likely to miss out.

Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)

source: express.co.uk