Arsenal need to steady the ship.

They do so by getting on the ball and working it to Bukayo Saka, who is chopped to the turf by Dan Burn.

Is there a better showcase for Eddie Howe's coaching ability than the fact that Jacob Murphy appears to have turned into Pele?

Stephen Warnock
Former England and Liverpool defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

Listen to that roar. That tells you everything you need to know about the start Newcastle have made.

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville on Sky Sports: "The woodwork has been rattled - and so have Arsenal.

"What a break that was. Electric. This is a really confident start from Newcastle."

Another Newcastle chance! They are on the charge.

Alexander Isak's shot is pushed aside by Aaron Ramsdale.

Image source, Getty Images

Almost lift off!

Newcastle are inches from taking the lead as Jacob Murphy is found in the box by a deep cross from the left. He takes a touch and smashes a low shot against the base of the upright.

Arsenal are going to have to dig deep here.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at St. James' Park

Deafening noise at St James' Park. What an atmosphere as this resurgent Newcastle United try to move closer a place in the Champions League and dent Arsenal's title hopes.

The stadium is awash with black and white flags. Huge expectation in the air.

Boos ring around the ground as Arsenal get on the ball in the first minute. This really is some atmosphere.

Arsenal have to win. Newcastle will be doing everything they can to ensure that it is they cheering instead.

To a mighty roar, the game gets under way...

Stephen Warnock
Former England and Liverpool defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

I am delighted I have got a ticket for this game and I'm here to witness it.

There’s going to be fireworks in this game.

It’s going to be arguably, the second best team in the league against the number two-placed team in the league. I think Newcastle are a better team at the moment and I think they will show it today.

The pressure is on Arsenal.

Here's a reminder of how both teams are setting up:

Callum Wilson scored eight goals in seven Premier League appearances for Newcastle in April, including three braces. Overall, his 15 goals this season is the most in a single top-flight campaign for a Newcastle player since Demba Ba's 16 in 2011-12, while the last player to reach double figures at St James' Park (Wilson currently on nine) was Georginio Wijnaldum in 2015-16 (11).

Leandro Trossard has assisted more Premier League away goals than any other Arsenal player this season (5), despite not making his first appearance on the road for the Gunners until February. Indeed, his five assists have come in just 309 minutes, averaging one every 62 minutes.

Newcastle have won eight of their last nine Premier League games (L1), including each of the last three by an aggregate score of 13-3.

Their 18 wins overall this season is their most in a single top-flight campaign since 2011-12 (19).

It is bouncing in St James' Park. The teams head out into an absolute cauldron.

No doubting how up for it the Newcastle fans are, but you'd forgive Arsenal's supporters a few nerves.

Here comes the national anthem on this coronation weekend.

Newcastle (D1) are one of three teams Arsenal have failed to beat in the Premier League this season, along with the two teams at either extreme of the table - Southampton (D2) and Manchester City (L2).

Victory for the Gunners would see them beat as many as 17 different opponents in a single campaign for the first time since 2011-12 (17).

Eddie Howe says "nothing is done" and believes Newcastle's fight for a top-four finish could go down to the wire.

The Magpies are six points above fifth-placed Liverpool with a game in hand, but Howe said there is still a long way to go.

"Nothing is done - I didn’t expect it to be," he said. "We are competing against elite teams who will fight to the end and we have to do the same. The fight we are in could go right down until the end of the season.

"I think we are in a really good moment. The passion is there in the city - you can feel it and I hear stories of it. Internally, we are united and together in our fight for success. The players are ready for hopefully an exciting end to the season."

By the time Newcastle play on Sunday, Liverpool could be just three points behind, but Howe said: "I don’t lose any sleep over it. I am aware Liverpool are a top team. Does it surprise me they are able to go on a run? No. But there are other teams.

"We just focus on ourselves and that’s all we can do. We have a tough run of fixtures but a great run of fixtures."

The summer transfer window will be huge for Newcastle if they do make the Champions League, but that is not a priority for Howe right now.

He said: "The transfer window is secondary at the moment. We are fighting for points in games and that consumes you so much. Until we know where we stand in terms of next year, it is difficult to predict.

"The games dictate what happens. The transfer business is hugely important and I don’t underestimate it. There is work going into it, but you just have to get your priorities right at this stage in the season."

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is proving "an absolute bargain", according to former Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

Odegaard scored twice in the Gunners' 3-1 victory over Chelsea on Tuesday. The 24-year-old Norway midfielder has now scored 14 goals in 33 Premier League games in his second full season at Arsenal, after joining the club from Real Madrid for £30m in August 2021.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast, Schwarzer said: "When Odegaard first came to the club you saw signs of what a quality player he could go on to be, but at that point he wasn’t scoring enough goals to impact the game enough in the final third.

"He has really added that to his game this season. He is making runs into the box late and he is arriving in those positions.

"His finishing has improved. That is partly down to confidence because of how well the season has gone for him, but he looks a totally different player and, at £30m, an absolute bargain."

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Newcastle United defender Dan Burn says Newcastle are playing with greater energy and intensity and believe they are fitter than every opponent.

The Magpies have won their last three games, scoring 12 and conceding just three.

Speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle, Burn said: "We believe we're the fittest team in the league.

"I think you can see the intensity that we play at and we have the mentality that we've got more [fitness] than every team we play against.

"We thought that if we got a goal back, with them struggling at bottom of the league, that they might not be able to handle it, mentally - and it worked."

Newcastle host Arsenal on Sunday in a match that will be crucial for both clubs.

The Magpies beat the Gunners 2-0 at St James' Park last May and Burn is hoping for a repeat: "If we can create the same sort of atmosphere with the fans that we did at this time last season, it could be a great game.

"They're still trying to win the league but we want the points we need to cement our place in the Champions League. I can't believe I'm saying that, but that's what we're chasing.

"We want that now and we're in that position where we can really push for it. So, we'll be going to win the game."

Image source, Getty Images

• Newcastle United won this fixture 2-0 last season – not since their first three home Premier League meetings with Arsenal between 1993-94 and 1995-96 have they beaten them consecutively at St James' Park.
• The Gunners have failed to score in their past two Premier League games against the Magpies, having scored at least once in their previous 18 against them (40 goals in total).
• The reverse fixture between Arsenal and Newcastle in January ended 0-0 – the Magpies haven't avoided defeat in both Premier League meetings with the Magpies in a season since 2010-11 (1-0 win away, 4-4 draw at home).