Newcastle head into the match sat 3rd in the Premier League, six points clear of 5th place Liverpool with a game in hand.
As a result, a win over Arsenal would all but guarantee their spot in next season’s Champions League.
Arsenal, meanwhile, picked up their first win in five on Tuesday when they saw off Chelsea. However, the Gunners remain one point off top spot having played a game more than Manchester City.
Here is 101GreatGoals’ combined XI for the clash.
GK: Nick Pope
Pope and Aaron Ramsdale have both been in top form this season. However, Pope has conceded just 27 goals this season compared to Ramsdale’s 39, whilst the Newcastle man is also less error-prone.
Ben White is a solid defensive option for Arsenal, but Trippier is also defensively sound whilst offering much more of an attacking threat.
CB: Fabian Schar & Sven Botman
As we are only using fit players for this XI, Arsenal’s current centre-backs – Rob Holding and Jakub Kiwior – do not hold a candle to a Newcastle pairing who have been mainstays in the best defence in the Premier League.
LB: Oleksandr Zinchenko
Zinchenko has been one of Arsenal’s standout performers in 2022/23 and he is a major miss when out injured. Dan Burn, meanwhile, is good defensively but very weak in attack, which is to be expected given he is a natural centre-back.
CDM: Bruno Guimaraes
Bruno’s ability to link defence and attack has been superb this campaign. He is also excellent at breaking up playing and providing cover for the centre-backs behind him.
CDM: Granit Xhaka
Though not as impressive as he was early in 2022/23, Xhaka is still performing at a high level in his new role, which allows him more of a free role to join in attacks and cause issues in the opposition box.
CAM: Martin Odegaard
Newcastle’s remaining midfielders are nowhere near the level of Martin Odegaard. The Norwegian is in the midst of arguably his best-ever season, netting 14 and assisting eight in 33 Premier League games.
RW: Bukayo Saka
Jacob Murphy has stepped up for Newcastle in recent weeks, netting three in his last four. However, Saka has been superb all season, scoring 13 and assisting 11 in 34 PL outings.
ST: Callum Wilson
Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah have not been the most prolific in front of goal recently. Callum Wilson, meanwhile, has scored 15 and assisted four in 26 for the Magpies, including five goals in his last three appearances.
LW: Gabriel Martinelli
Arsenal’s top scorer in the Premier League this term, Gabriel Martinelli has found the net 15 times in 2022/23, with eight of those goals scored in the Brazilian’s previous 12 games.
Combined XI
