EPL: Newcastle v Arsenal preview

Newcastle v Arsenal preview

Newcastle and Arsenal will both be looking to continue their positive recent runs when they meet on Sunday.

The Magpies have won their last three Premier League games in a row to pull clear of the relegation zone while the Gunners have won six of their last seven in all competitions.

Rafael Benitez has admitted Newcastle have exceeded his expectations by climbing into 10th place in the Premier League with six games remaining - but despite their good form, he says his team must be classed as underdogs for the Super Sunday clash, live on Sky Sports Premier League.

He said: "The reality is that Arsenal are one of the top sides in English football. They are a massive team with very good players and a great manager with great experience, so they have a lot of things.

"That is why they have been in Europe for so many years. This year, people say, 'Oh, they are not in the Champions League', but they are in the semi-final of the Europa League, so that means something."

 

Aaron Ramsey will be hoping to be involved despite a deep cut on his leg which was stapled closed during Thursday's Europa League draw at CSKA Moscow.

Jack Wilshere took a kick to his ankle but also seems likely to feature.

Granit Xhaka may return after missing the game in Russia through illness, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang comes back into the fold having been cup-tied. David Ospina (ankle) and Henrikh Mkhitaryan (knee) miss out.

 

Loan signing Islam Slimani will hope for a first start for Newcastle. The Leicester frontman belatedly made his debut for the Magpies as a late substitute against Huddersfield a fortnight ago, but was ineligible to play against his parent club last weekend and will be looking to force his way into Benitez's thoughts.

Newcastle otherwise have no fresh injury problems.