Newcastle v Arsenal: Premier League – live | Premier League

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2 min “Ødegaardâ€s absence from the starting XI is beginning to look a little ominous,†says Charles Antaki. “Heâ€s not the kind of player who regains form by running harder, jumping higher or tackling more robustly; his kind of talent comes, you wouldâ€ve thought, from some inner genius which is either very much on or, if not, very much not. May he come on, do some bamboozling, set up two goals and score a third. Thatâ€ll help.â€

Itâ€s been a while, hasnâ€t it, since he was at his best for a long period. If he rediscovers the form of 2023-24, Arsenal will win the league. FACT.

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1 min Peep peep! Arsenal kick off form left to right as we watch. Newcastle have started in a 4-3-3 formation.

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Eddie Howeâ€s pre-match thoughts

[On the rivalry with Arsenal] Theyâ€ve been really tight games. I think there are two teams who show a great will to win, pride themselves on detail and tactical plans, so I think theyâ€ve been intriguing games.

[On Newcastleâ€s shape and flexibility] There are a few different ways we can play – we can change our shape in-running if we need to. You donâ€t do it to keep people guessing, thatâ€s irrelevant; itâ€s how we perform on the pitch. Weâ€ve made a few changes but I do think itâ€s a strong team and weâ€re looking forward to seeing them gel together.

[In that case, would you like to tell us whether itâ€s a back three or back four?] Youâ€ll find out in no time!

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Mikel Artetaâ€s pre-match thoughts

[On Eberechi Ezeâ€s inclusion] Weâ€re very happy with what heâ€s doing so heâ€s earned the right to start the game.

[On Cristhian Mosqueraâ€s inclusion] Willy [Saliba] is coming back from an ankle injury that he is still trying to resolve. Heâ€s played twice in six days and we have another two games coming up this week so we have to managed the squad.

[On Martin Odegaard, who is on the bench] Heâ€s very keen. Heâ€s trained the last two days and heâ€s desperate to get on the pitch.

These stadiums and these moments make you a team. The scars, the difficulties and challenges you face, in the end they make you a better team. Hopefully weâ€ll show that today.

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To three or not to three

I thought Newcastle were playing 4-3-3 but Sky have their formation as 3-4-2-1 with Jacob Murphy at right wing-back. That system was very effective against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-final last season.

Newcastle (3-4-2-1) Pope; Thiaw, Botman, Burn; Murphy, Bruno, Tonali, Livramento; Gordon, Joelinton; Woltemade.

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This is how the Premier League table looks after that Villa result.

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Premier League result: Aston Villa 3-1 Fulham

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The Newcastle view

“Things were looking promising,†writes Chris Paraskevas. “We had just won a trophy. The wild magpies that Iâ€ve adopted as pets (nickamed Big ‘Al and Eddie) were literally eating out of my hand. Newcastle had a recognised striker.

“Then the other bloke left. And of the two replacement strikers we purchased, one is crocked and the other one isnâ€t really a striker, apparently.

“And now the magpies think Iâ€m some sort of threat owing to a recent misunderstanding with the dog (see: Bournemouth MBM). I checked the backyard today and they were circling, ready to swoop.

“So if Mikel Arteta thinks he has problems then Iâ€d like to see him survive an Australian spring with a nest of pi$$ed-off, pumped-up, swoop-ready magpies nearby.â€

The Newcastle front six today looks really strong to admittedly dead eyes, so I wouldnâ€t be too worried about them despite the frustrations of PSR and the Swedish striker.

Iâ€m less confident your magpie dispute will have a happy ending. Those buggers canâ€t be reasoned with.

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‘I would love itâ€, etc.

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Read Jonathan Wilson on Newcastle

Note to trolls, keyboard warriors and Messrs Angry: I did not write this piece, nor have I read it.

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Newcastle team news

Eddie Howe also makes three changes from the last league game, a goalless draw at Bournemouth in Newcastleâ€s case. Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and Anthony Gordon – who all played against Bradford in the Carabao Cup in midweek – start ahead of the Lewises, Hall and Miley, and Joe Willock.

Newcastle (4-3-3) Pope; Livramento, Thiaw, Botman, Burn; Bruno, Tonali, Joelinton; Murphy, Woltemade, Gordon.

Substitutes: Ramsdale, Trippier, Lascelles, Barnes, Krafth, Osula, Elanga, Willock, Miley.

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Arsenal team news

The handbrake is off! Ish. Eberechi Eze replaces Mikel Merino in the Arsenal midfield, one of three changes from the notorious Emirates XI that started against Manchester City. Bukayo Saka starts in place cof the injured Noni Madueke. The other change is at the back, where Cristhian Mosquera replaces William Saliba. Youâ€d imagine thatâ€s injury-related, though Saliba is on the bench.

Arsenal (4-3-3) Raya; Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori; Eze, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard.

Substitutes: Arrizabalaga, Saliba, Lewis-Skelly, White, Odegaard, Norgaard, Merino, Martinelli, Dowman.

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Preamble

Hello and welcome to Handbrake Watch, a new series in which the Guardianâ€s finest minds we assess and judge Mikel Artetaâ€s tactical approach. Arteta, whose Arsenal side visit Newcastle today, was heavily criticised for picking a cautious XI against Manchester City last week. He added more grist to the news cycle by rejecting those criticisms, so there will be plenty of scrutiny on his XI today. Maybe even the football itself?!?!?!

Yesterdayâ€s results have taken some of the focus away from Arteta and Arsenal – partly because other managers are back in the doghouse, mainly because Crystal Palace, lovely, life-affirming Crystal Palace, beat Liverpool at Selhurst Park. Arsenal will jump from seventh to to second, two points behind Liverpool, if they win today.

Not that itâ€ll be easy. Theyâ€ve lost their last three games at St James†Park without scoring, and few things invigorate the Newcastle crowd quite like a visit from Arsenal. Newcastleâ€s need for a win is just as great. They are 15th after a largely quiet start to the season – on the field, if not off it.

If recent games between Newcastle and Arsenal are a guide, this wonâ€t be high-scoring. But itâ€ll be eventful, probably a bit spiteful, and thereâ€s a chance one of the managers will be spewing come 7pm.

Kick off 4.30pm.

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Updated at 10.55 EDT

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