Injury-hit Newcastle face a tough task after losing three of last four matches and this is clearly a bad time to be facing in-form Arsenal.

The Gunners crashed out of the Champions League despite winning at Monaco, but they remain confident of making it six Premier League victories on the bounce.

Following the heavy summer recruitment, Newcastle hoped the team would finally enjoy a successful season this term, but things did not exactly go according to the plan.

Bar the impressive six-match winning run that stretched across October and November, the Magpies have been pretty disappointing and now sit in the bottom half of the standings.

Newcastle are at a safe distance from the relegation zone despite suffering back to back defeats to Manchester United and Everton, but they could still get involved in the survival fight.

And having failed to score a single goal in three of last four Premiership matches, the Magpies are 2.50 (3/2) not to score against Arsenal.

Manager John Carver faces serious selection problems given that he only has 13 outfield players to select from after captain Fabricio Coloccini was sent off at Goodison Park.

Papiss Cisse is banned as well, whilst Steven Taylor, Siem de Jong, Rolando Aarons, Cheick Tiote, Paul Dummett and Masadio Haidara are out injured.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Krul – Janmaat, Williamson, Anita, R. Taylor – Sissoko, Colback – Perez, Gouffran, Ameobi – Riviere.

Arsenal have only themselves to blame for failing to get past the Champions League first knockout stage, although at least they continued the impressive run of results by defeating Monaco at Stade Louis II.

The Gunners eventually crashed out on away goals, with the late goal they conceded in the first leg proving crucial in the final count.

Meanwhile, Arsenal have seriously raised their Premier League form, winning last five league matches, and they can have been made 1.62 (5/8) to make it six on the trot.

The Gunners are now in a position to challenge holders Manchester City for a second-place finish, although they are just three points clear of fifth-placed Liverpool.

This means that Arsene Wenger’s charges cannot afford to relax just yet, although they go into the Newcastle clash in excellent spirits.

Arsenal will have Tomas Rosicky back to the side, while Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey are pushing for starting places.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-3): Ospina – Chambers, Paulista, Koscielny, Monreal – Cazorla, Coquelin, Ramsey – Walcott, Giroud, Ozil.