Arsenal vs Newcastle LIVE: Premier League match stream, latest team news, lineups, TV, prediction

Arsenal vs Newcastle LIVE: Premier League match stream, latest team news, lineups, TV, prediction

Gunners have lost all three matches against Newcastle this season

Back in the squad: Kai Havertz has been named on the Arsenal bench against Newcastle

Arsenal vs Newcastle - LIVE!

Arsenal can confirm their place in next season’s Champions League as they host Newcastle this afternoon in the Premier League. It has been a frustrating season for the Gunners, with their title challenge falling well short and the Champions League run ending in the semi-finals, but they can ensure they will be back at Europe’s top table with a point here.

Mikel Arteta will be wanting more than that, though, with victory effectively wrapping up second in the league. Arsenal have already been beaten three times by Newcastle this season and so will be desperate for revenge. Kai Havertz could make his first appearance since February, having been named on the bench.

Newcastle will move above Arsenal and into second with a win here, as they too look to secure a return to the Champions League. The Magpies have lost just one of their last ten matches in all competitions, but they must cope without the injured Alexander Isak this afternoon. Follow all the action with Standard Sport’s LIVE blog, featuring expert analysis from Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium!

Arsenal vs Newcastle latest news

Kick-off: 4:30pm BST | Emirates Stadium

How to watch: Sky Sports

Arsenal team news: Havertz on bench

Newcastle team news: No Isak

Standard Sport prediction

Transformed Havertz raising standards

Mikel Arteta says there has been a “transformation” in Kai Havertz’s body during his injury lay-off.

“The last three years in his career have been so condensed that he hasn’t had time to do that and this has been a window and he really wanted to use it,” Arteta said.

“I think he destroyed all the metrics that we had in the gym for the last ten years.

“All of them. Power, acceleration, muscle mass, the way that he has increased certain capacities in his body, his agility, he’s been incredible. I was talking to the medical staff the other day and they were talking about that.

“For someone that is not in the team to have that mindset, the only thing he has done is raise the standards in the building because the other ones in the building who are injured were looking at him: ‘I’m going to look bad if I don’t do the same’ - so that’s part of the culture.

“And [I am] very grateful because when the players that are not playing are doing that, it’s just raising the bar for the next one to come. If he is not at that level he is gonna get exposed so that will make us better.”

Win for Arsenal and they will almost certainly finish the season in second.

Lose and it will be Newcastle sitting second heading into the final match of the campaign.

Fair bit riding on it...

27 minutes ago

Havertz in the squad

Kai Havertz could make his first appearance since February.

It’s been a swift recovery from hamstring surgery for the German and he will hope to feature off the bench this afternoon.

Big boost for the Gunners... it’s been a long few months without a recognised striker.

Big blow for Magpies

No Alexander Isak for Newcastle.

He has what the club have described as a “minor groin injury”, so Callum Wilson leads the line for the Magpies.

Otherwise it’s basically as expected, with Sven Botman fit to feature

Newcastle team news

Newcastle XI: Pope, Schar, Burn, Botman, Murphy, Tonali, Guimaraes, Livramento, Barnes, Wilson, Gordon

Subs: Dubravka, Lascelles, Longstaff, Neave, Willock, Krafth, Osula, Miley, Ruddy

Arsenal team news

Arsenal XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Trossard

Subs: Neto, Calafiori, Tierney, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Henry-Francis, Nwaneri, Sterling, Havertz

Kroenke makes investment vow

Arsenal co-chair Josh Kroenke says the club will invest in the squad this summer as they strive to win major trophies.

The Gunners wait for silverware is now at five years after they failed to win a trophy this season.

“As a club, we’re striving to win major trophies and, on the men’s front, we know we have fallen short of what we all wanted this season,” said Kroenke.

“Despite not reaching the Champions League final in Munich, our run to the semi-final of the competition still created some of our best nights this season.

“Our match here against Real Madrid was one of the best games and the most electric atmospheres we’ve experienced at Emirates Stadium. The game we played at the Bernabeu will no doubt live forever with those lucky enough to have been there.

“Mikel and his coaching staff, as well as the players, faced some challenges throughout the season and I want to give credit to the way they managed in these circumstances. It’s in these moments you learn the most.

“We plan to invest to get behind winning and doing better next season. We’re delighted we have our sporting director, Andrea [Berta], who will play an important role in this.

“Ultimately, we all want the same thing. We’re as hungry for success as you are and that goes for everyone who works for the transfer

Arsenal aim to avoid unwanted history

Mikel Arteta has spent most of the past two months telling his Arsenal players how they can create history.

The Gunners’ Champions League run is now over, but their chance to make history remains as they prepare to welcome Newcastle to the Emirates Stadium.

It is, however, unwanted history on the line for Arsenal as they bid to avoid a fourth defeat this season to the Magpies.

No side has ever beaten the Gunners four times in a single campaign, but Newcastle could become the first after winning at St James’ Park in the Premier League earlier this season and also beating Arsenal in both legs of their Carabao Cup semi-final tie.

“They’re a very difficult team for any opposition, I think,” said Arteta, when asked about Newcastle being Arsenal’s bogey team.

“What [manager] Eddie [Howe], the staff and as a club they’ve done over the last few years is remarkable. They’ve been very, very consistent and very difficult to play against, like we’ve been.

Arteta gives update on Arsenal transfer plans

Mikel Arteta has hinted Arsenal are ready to push the boat out for the right player this summer - likening the club’s transfer budget as trying to keep costs down for a wedding.

Arsenal’s priority is to sign a new striker, but they are also in the market for a winger and backup goalkeeper.

Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi is expected to join too, while the club may add to their defence depending on outgoings.

Arsenal have traditionally operated with a self-sustainable model under their current owners, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, but they have also shown a willingness to spend big.

“The thing is that the budget is like when you have your wedding, you plan your wedding with your wife and you give her a budget and never less, it’s always more,” said Arteta.

“When you build a house it’s always more. Normally this happens. You prepare for different scenarios.

“Then unfortunate things happen. Sometimes we want a player and suddenly we have an injury or that player gets injured.

“There are so many variables that can happen but there is a budget. There is always an idea of what we can do, what we can improve, what the priorities are going to be and then let's see if we can do it.”

Stage is set!

Magpies have arrived in north London.

They came out on top when these sides met here in the Carabao Cup semi-finals, one of three wins over Arsenal this season.

Can they make it four from four?