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Arsenal team news vs Newcastle: Predicted line up - Five injury doubts, Ramsey one of them
ARSENAL welcome Newcastle to the Emirates on Monday night looking to continue their pursuit of Champions League football.
Newcastle team train ahead of match against Arsenal
Unai Emery’s troops are currently sitting pretty in fourth place in the table, leading fifth and sixth-placed Manchester United and Chelsea by two and three points respectively.
And if results go their way this weekend, they could potentially leapfrog their bitter rivals Tottenham into third spot.
That will, however, only happen if Spurs fail to beat league leaders Liverpool and Gunners see off Rafael Benitez’s side.
Arsenal have only lost two of their last 16 matches against the Magpies but will face a difficult task to improve their already-impressive record against the northeast side.
That’s on account of the fact they could be without the services of five first-team players for Monday’s match.
Granit Xhaka is a major doubt for the game as he picked up a thigh injury whilst away on international duty with Switzerland.
Lucas Torreira will definitely miss the match as he’s serving the last of a three-match suspension.
Aaron Ramsey is also a doubt having suffered a minor thigh strain whilst on duty with Wales.
Granit Xhaka is a major doubt for the game as he picked up a thigh injury whilst away on international duty with Switzerland
Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Sead Kolasinac could also be absent, despite both defenders playing for Greece and Bosnia during the international break.
However, with a lack of options at the back, Emery is expected to start the duo.
Arsenal expected XI vs Newcastle: Leno, Sokratis, Koscielny, Monreal, Maitland-Niles, Kolasinac, Guendouzi, Ramsey, Ozil, Lacazette, Aubameyang.
After weeks of uncertainty, Arsenal are seemingly well placed to qualify for the Champions League, which they’ve failed to do in the last two seasons.
Arsenal squad put on IMPRESSIVE display in training
Former Gunner Robert Pires has been impressed by what he’s seen of his old side under Emery and reckons the Spaniard will secure them Champions League football.
"I think Unai Emery is a good manager, he’s won some titles with Sevilla, with Paris Saint-Germain," the Frenchman told ESPN.
"For the end of the season, he has two targets: to reach the top four and – why not – to win the Europa League competition.
"That’s why Arsenal are in a very good way and that’s why I’m very confident and very positive always when I talk about Arsenal.
"I think they can reach both targets.
"Of course, it will be very difficult, but the squad is very good, we have good quality.
"All the players now they are very confident, especially Mesut Ozil – because he is one of the best players in the Premier League.
"So that’s why Unai Emery, the squad, they are very confident for the two targets: the top four and why not lift the [Europa League] trophy."