Arsenal take a short trip to the St James’ Park to take on Steve McClaren’s side in Saturday’s Premier League lunch-time kick-off.

Arsene Wenger was without the first choice centre-back pairing of Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny against Liverpool on Monday evening due to illness and injury respectively.

The Arsenal boss drafted in Gabriel alongside Calum Chambers at centre-back, in the only two changes from the side which defeated Crystal Palace. Ahead of the visit of Newcastle, Koscielny remains a doubt with a back problem, while Wenger has remarked that Mertesacker is the least likely to return to contention following a chest infection.

Further forward, Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will both be pushing for starts, following their cameo appearances against the Merseysiders. Walcott could come into the reckoning up front, should Wenger decide to rotate, though Giroud remains favourite to lead the line once more.

Danny Welbeck is a couple weeks away from a return to training, while Tomas Rosicky and Jack Wilshere remain on the sidelines with knee and ankle problems respectively.

Here is how i expect Wenger to line-up his side.

Don’t agree with this starting XI? Then share your thoughts and opinion on how the boss should line-up his side against the Magpies.