ARSENAL vs NEWCASTLE: All the latest team news and stats as Gunners aim to maintain course to reach Champions League

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Emirates Stadium (Monday, 8pm - Sky Sports 1)

Arsenal team news:

Arsenal expect to have captain Thomas Vermaelen back from a hamstring problem for Monday night's Barclays Premier League clash against Newcastle.

Midfielder Abou Diaby will not be rushed into a return from a serious knee injury after reporting a slight groin problem after playing for the Under 21s in midweek.

Up and running: Thomas Vermaelen looks to have overcome his hamstring complaint

Up and running: Thomas Vermaelen looks to have overcome his hamstring complaint

Defender Kieran Gibbs (hamstring) is still sidelined along with England midfielder Jack Wilshere (foot), Serge Gnabry and Theo Walcott (both knee).

Provisional squad: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Podolski, Cazorla, Ozil, Ramsey, Arteta, Giroud, Fabianski, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Flamini, Sanogo, Jenkinson, Rosicky, Kallstrom, Vermaelen.

Newcastle team news:

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew will hope for a further fitness boost ahead of Monday night's Barclays Premier League trip to Arsenal.

Midfielder Moussa Sissoko is back in training after missing the last three games with a hamstring problem and could feature at the Emirates Stadium, while full-back Mathieu Debuchy and striker Loic Remy could return to the starting line-up after appearing as substitutes in last weekend's 2-1 home defeat by Swansea.

On the mend: Moussa Sissoko is training again having missed the last three matches with a hamstring injury

On the mend: Moussa Sissoko is training again having missed the last three matches with a hamstring injury

However, strikers Papiss Cisse (knee) and Luuk de Jong (ankle) are likely to be missing as medics continue to assess the extent of the injuries they suffered against the Swans, and midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa (dead leg) is still struggling.

Provisional squad: Krul, Elliot, Debuchy, Dummett, Haidara, Coloccini, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, S. Taylor, Tiote, Anita, Marveaux, Gouffran, Sissoko, Gosling, Remy, Shola Ameobi, Armstrong.

Big match stats:

Arsenal have won their last four Premier League meetings with the Magpies; their best ever run against them in the competition.

The Magpies have lost eight of their last 10 Premier League games at Arsenal (W1 D1); losing 7-3 there last season.

Only against Liverpool (15) have Newcastle lost more Premier League away games than at Arsenal (13).

The Gunners have won their last two Premier League games, after winning only two of the previous nine.

Sole Gunner: Olivier Giroud's (right) strike was enough to give Arsenal a 1-0 win at Newcastle earlier this season

Sole Gunner: Olivier Giroud's (right) strike was enough to give Arsenal a 1-0 win at Newcastle earlier this season

All four of Mesut Ozil’s Premier League goals have come at the Emirates Stadium but only three of his eight assists have.

Lukas Podolski, with 19 goals and 11 assists in the Premier League has the third best mins per goal involvement in the competition’s history (97 mins), behind Thierry Henry and Sergio Aguero.

Podolski has scored a brace in each of his last two Premier League appearances and has netted five in his last five in the top-flight.

Newcastle remain in the top-half of the table despite losing nine of their last 12 Premier League matches.

The Magpies have scored just 10 Premier League goals in 2014, fewer than any other side.

Arsenal cannot top the table again this season but will send the season having spent the most days at the summit (128).

*Stats supplied by Opta

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