Steve Bower
BBC Match of the Day commentator on 5 live at the KC Stadium

"Newcastle don't have the players to stand up and be counted. If they were playing a League One team in the cup tomorrow, you'd back the League One club."

Phil Neville
BBC Radio 5 live

"After Saturday's game I thought one or two of the players were a disgrace. As a player, you have to do the simple things - like tackling and tracking back. Newcastle have hit rock bottom and the players have a responsibility to react to what's happened. Carver's interview at the weekend suggested he might have lost the players. It was a last resort. He has probably made them run a lot, took them to the beach, even taken them out for lunch. Now he has given them both barrels."

In case you missed it, Newcastle said today that John Carver will remain manager until the end of the season.

Image source, Getty Images

A win or a draw tonight will be enough to lift Hull above Newcastle, and with 18th-place Sunderland having a game in hand, it will definitely be getting a little too close to comfort for some Toon fans.

However, they do have perhaps the easiest run-in of all the teams in trouble, with home games against West Brom and West Ham and an away trip to QPR to come.

Surely they can pick up enough points from those games to survive?

Paul Limbert doesn't write any words. He's speaking through images. Remember, you can get involved in our Star Wars/PL managers debate via #bbcfootball,, external via text on 81111 (UK only) or via the BBC Sport Facebook page., external

Image source, Twitter

Steve Bower
BBC Match of the Day commentator at the KC Stadium

"Arsenal will look back and reflect at frustrating points dropped during the campaign, including the reverse of this fixture at the Emirates in October.

"However their recent form has been consistent. Last weekend was only the third time in 2015 they have dropped Premier League points and arrive at the KC Stadium having lost just once in 13 matches.

"They'll face a Hull team boosted by their timely win against Liverpool. It's evidence once again of how much of a difference back-to-back wins can make in the battle to survive in the top flight."

Tony Dickinson: Arsene Wenger could be Yoda, he talks knowledge and is able to sense talent in the young.

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal arrive in Hull in stunning form having lost just twice in the Premier League so far in 2015.

That is in complete contrast to their form when they last played Hull in the league, with Arsene Wenger's side needing a last-minute Danny Welbeck goal to deny Hull a 2-1 win at the Emirates.

That prevented them from equalling their worst start to a league season under Wenger, having won just two of their opening eight league games.

Considering that awful start, it is amazing that Arsenal are as high as they are in the league. How different things might have been if they had even just an ordinary start to the season.

Image source, @usasoccerguy

USA soccerguy:, external Happy Star Wars Day: Darth Wenger.

Amazing scenes...

Colin Cranmer: A storm trooper, because they always miss their targets.

Robert Judd: He has to be the protocol droid C3PO. Highly cultured, somewhat aloof, numerous languages and ensures things are done the correct manner.

As you might have guessed, we're marking May the 4th (get it?!) by asking you to compare Star Wars characters and Premier League managers. Let us know who, and why, via #bbcfootball,, external via text on 81111 (UK only) or tell us via the BBC Sport Facebook page., external Also check terms & conditions.

Image source, Getty Images

Hull City have kept back-to-back clean sheets for the first time since October 2013, with James Chester, Michael Dawson and Paul McShane having been outstanding in a defensive three, and they all start tonight.

They will need to be at their best to keep out a side that has failed to score in only three league matches this season.

The teams are in and both sides are unchanged from their last Premier League outing.

Hull XI: Harper; Chester, Dawson, McShane; Elmohamady, Huddlestone, Livermore, Quinn, Brady; Aluko, N'Doye.

Arsenal XI: Ospina, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Ramsey, Ozil, Alexis, Giroud.

"Hull's win over Liverpool last Tuesday was massive for their survival hopes, and they played like a team who knew how important it would be. They were never seriously exposed at the back at any stage of the game and if they can do that again against Arsenal, then I think they can get another positive result."

Read more from Lawro and see how he got on with the weekend's games in his latest Premier League predictions article.

If Arsene Wenger would be a Star Wars character, who would he be?

Dave Freshwater on the BBC Sport Facebook page: A jedi, Arsene is strong in fourth...

Juliette Ferrington
BBC Sport

"Pre-match chat 5 live Sport Mark Chapman Steve Bower and Phil Neville. On air from 7pm."

Bit harsh Mike and Jeff, but speaking of John Carver, fighting it out with Hull and co in the battle to stay in the Premier League are, somewhat surprisingly, Newcastle.

The North East club have been in shocking form this year, losing their last eight games in succession to drop perilously close to the relegation zone.

Their latest defeat, Saturday's 3-0 defeat to Leicester, led to boss Carver accusing one of his own players of purposely getting themselves sent off but despite that, he has today been assured his job is safe.

"John, his staff and players are focused on the three fixtures that remain this season," the club said. "All parties accept responsibility for the current situation but are determined, together, to ensure this club retains its Premier League status."

Mike in Sheffield: John Carver must be Jar Jar Binks. The loud and irritating one who is incapable of doing anything remotely useful.

Ian, a jubilant Chelsea fan in Whitley Bay: Arsene has the look of Peter Cushing about him (stay with me) - Grand Moff Tarkin Wenger?

James Marshall: Arsene Wenger would have to be Rahm Kota, "I didn't see that"

Luke, Portsmouth: Nigel Pearson has to be Lando Calrisssian - seems to be the bad guy at the midway point, but has turned it round to be one of the heroes!

Jacob S: Wenger = Yoda. Old, very wise, an innovator, but stuck in his ways, less willing to accept new methods of doing things these days.

Jeff: John Carver is Jar Jar Binx: insufferable.

As you might have guessed, we're marking May the 4th (get it?!) by asking you to compare Star Wars characters and Premier League managers. Let us know who, and why, via #bbcfootball,, external via text on 81111 (UK only) or tell us via the BBC Sport Facebook page., external Also check terms & conditions.

BBC Radio 5 live

From 19:00 BST, tune into BBC Radio 5 live for the Monday Night Club, with football discussion, sports news and build-up to tonight's game.

Then, from 20:00 BST you can listen to full match commentary from the KC Stadium before finishing off your evening with 5 live's Football Social - your calls and social media reaction to the game.

Image source, Getty Images

Hull need a win, and their recent form will perhaps give them hope of getting it after securing back-to-back wins against Crystal Palace and Liverpool.

Their form against Arsenal, though, is not so good. They have managed just three wins in 21 meetings with the Gunners, last beating them on home soil over 100 years ago...

Matt in Orpington: Ian Holloway would definitely be JaJa Binks. Bald and bonkers doesn't cover it.