One area where Newcastle have struggled this season is when they have faced the top teams.

The Magpies have lost all nine league matches this season against the teams currently in the top five of the table, conceding an average of three goals a game.

Joelinton has been named Newcastle's player of the year.

The Brazilian has had a remarkable revival under Eddie Howe, having turned from a goal-shy striker to a battling midfielder.

Maybe next season he'll be a world-class centre-back.

Mark Lawrenson
BBC football expert

Arsenal endured a horrible night in Thursday's north London derby, but they cannot afford to dwell on what went wrong for them against Spurs.

It's typical Arsenal, really, because they always seem to get themselves in a good position but whenever something goes against them, they just seem to collapse. At times this season it has looked like they have become stronger mentally - but they haven't.

They are under pressure now, too. If Spurs beat Burnley on Sunday, and I think they will, then Arsenal will have to win at St James' Park or fourth place will be out of their hands on the final day of the season.

We know Tottenham have a record of messing up too, but they play bottom side Norwich on the final day and Arsenal obviously do not want to be relying on the Canaries to do them a favour.

That might be the scenario the Gunners are facing, though.

We all know how much Newcastle have improved in the past few months, and they have been very strong at St James' Park. Beating them there is a very big ask.

Prediction: 1-1

This is a big task for Arsenal to bounce back from their 3-0 derby hammering by Tottenham last time out.

The Gunners would have booked their place in the Champions League had they won, and now they are fifth - albeit with a game in hand.

"They are still in the driving seat but they wanted to put it to bed," ex-Gunners defender Matt Upson told the BBC. "They're in a difficult position now because Spurs have all the momentum.

"It's all about having the mental capacity and ability to go again - Arsenal have to show that."

Image source, .

The Magpies have come an awful long way since the reverse meeting. Eddie Howe's first game in the Newcastle dugout ended in a 2-0 defeat by the Emirates.

That left them bottom without a win after 13 games.

But they have been flying since bolstering their squad in January.

Newcastle have earned 32 points in 17 league games in 2022, after taking only 11 points from their first 19 fixtures.

A win today would take them to 46 points, their best Premier League total since 2013-14.

Image source, Reuters

A slightly surprising stat as Arsenal close in on returning to the Champions League but...

The Gunners are one short of equalling the club record for most Premier League defeats in a 38-game season: 13, set in 2017-18 and 2020-21.

However, with 21 wins at the moment, they are also one away from their most victories in a league season since 2016-17.

Newcastle United

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has played down claims his side have bought themselves out of danger this season.

The Magpies spent more than £90m in January following their big-money Saudi takeover.

They have since climbed out of the relegation zone to mid-table safety.

Howe said: "The easy thing is to talk about money. It is not what has got us here.

"January helped massively and the money helped the team, and the players who came in made a huge difference. But I don't think it was the reason we did very well.

"You look at the St James' Park atmosphere again, a crowd in a place where they are proud of the team and seeing a team giving everything to try and win a game."

Arsenal

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta does not think finishing fifth would be an achivement this season.

The Gunners have not finished above fifth place since 2015-16 when they came second.

They finished eighth last season and did not even qualify for Europe.

Arteta said: "We want to be playing in the Champions League, and that's the end. We've come so far.

"It's in our hands and we want to now capitalise on that and the excitement and the opportunity's there, and we will really want to go for it."

Nicholas Walker: As a Spurs fan, I'm praying to Ant & Dec for a good luck. That's what Newcastle fans do right...?

Can Kieran Trippier do his England pal Harry Kane a favour?

After Spurs' win over Burnley yesterday, Kane told the BBC: "I’ll give Kieran Trippier a text. It’ll be a tough game for Arsenal, but we’ve taken care of what we needed to do."

BBC Radio 5 Live

There is full commentary of this game on BBC Radio 5 Live, available on this page or on a radio.

Callum Wilson makes his first start since 27 December for Newcastle.

The striker came off the bench in the 5-0 defeat to Manchester City last-time out in his first game back since recovering from injury. Kieran Trippier is once again on the bench.

Wilson's return is one of two changes as Fabian Schar also starts.

Newcastle XI: Dubravka, Krafth, Schar, Burn, Targett, Longstaff, Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Almiron, Wilson, Saint-Maximin.

Subs: Dummett, Lascelles, Ritchie, Trippier, Fernandez, Fraser, Murphy, Darlow, Gayle.

Image source, .

Ben White returns to the Arsenal starting XI as one of three changes for the visitors.

Defender White has recovered from injury and comes in for the suspended Rob Holding. There are also starts for Emile Smith Rowe and Nuno Tavares.

Arsenal: Ramsdale, Tavares, White, Gabriel, Tomiyasu, Odegaard, Elneny, Xhaka, Saka, Nketiah, Smith Rowe.

Subs: Leno, Lacazette, Cedric, Pepe, Sambi Lokonga, Martinelli, Oulad M'hand, Swanson, Patino.

Image source, .

Three minutes until the line-ups are announced. Who's going to ruin your fantasy football team this week?

Arsenal will be in the Champions League - for the first time since 2016-17 - if they beat Newcastle and Everton in their remaining two games.

But if they drop any points, then Spurs - who are fourth after beating Burnley 1-0 on Sunday - just need to beat relegated Norwich on the final day to dine at European football's top table instead.

Chelsea could yet miss out, but realistically with their goal difference, one point against Leicester or Watford will be enough.

Image source, .

Arsenal looked to be cruising into a Champions League place until they were derailed by a derby demolition from Spurs.

Can they get things back on track against Newcastle tonight and keep things in their own hands?

Let's find out with live text and radio commentary from the game at St James' Park.

Image source, Reuters