Season 2008-2009

ARSENAL

 v

NEWCASTLE UNITED

"He is not just a goalscorer, he can make assists, has good link play, makes runs.

"Owen gets where he needs to be as he reads the game."

Newcastle United boss Kevin Keegan told BBC Radio Newcastle:
"You know when you go there [the Emirates Stadium], like Old Trafford and Anfield and just about every place in the Premiership to be honest, you've got to stand up and be counted.

"You've got to have the courage to play and whatever team I put out, with injuries, there'll be a lot of personnel missing who would normally play and the other players have got to stand up and be counted."
Hear in full what Kevin Keegan said

Match Preview:

Newcastle United make their fifth visit to the Emirates Stadium, as they face Arsenal in their third Premiership game of the season.

Arsenal are unbeaten in six league and cup matches against Newcastle, with the Magpies only picking up just one point out of a last possible 18 on Arsenal soil.

The Geordie's last win was a famous 1-3 victory in December 2001 at Highbury.  Goals that Tuesday night from Andy O'Brien, Alan Shearer, and Lauren Robert, took Sir Bobby Robson's men to the top of the Premier League.

Despite being buoyed at their good start to the season, Toon manager Kevin Keegan goes into this game under a injury cloud.

Striker Obafemi Martins and Damien Duff have joined the casualty list, and are expected to be out for a similar time after their respective groin and knee injuries picked up in Saturday’s victory over Bolton.  They join Mark Viduka, who is still at least four weeks away from returning, Andy Carroll, Claudio Cacapa and Joey Barton who all will miss the trip to London.

Adding further disappointment to Keegan, has been the transfer request handed in by James Milner this week.  The current England U21 international is having a medical at Villa Park on Friday, meaning he will not feature.

After two goals in two substitute appearances, Michael Owen is set to start his first game of the season, and his 50th appearance for the club.  While Charles N'Zogbia should make his 100th start for the Magpies.

Having marked his return to the Arsenal line-up in the midweek Champions League victory over Twente Enschede, Cesc Fabregas is poised to start his first Premiership game of the season, which will be 200th in a Arsenal shirt.

New Gunners signing Mikael Silvestre is in line to make his debut, and his 250th Premier League appearance.

One player who will not feature for Arsenal is Phillippe Senderos, who moved to AC Milan on a year-long loan this week.

Following the defeat last week at Craven Cottage, Arsenal will be looking to bounce back to winning ways in the Premier League.  Manager Arsene Wenger will be confidence of victory for his foreign legion, as Newcastle have only drawn one of their last nine visits to North London.

It is fair to say everyone connected with Newcastle United would have taken four points, and a place in the 3rd Round of the Carling Cup after the first four games of the season.  A victory in this game would see Newcastle record their best Premier League start since winning their first three games of the 1995/96 season.

This will be a big test for Keegan's men, Arsenal will keep a hold of the ball for long periods, meaning the midfield will need to get through a lot of miles.  Danny Guthrie and Nicky Butt will have to be on their best form, breaking up the Arsenal play, and not giving the ball away too often when they get it.

New signings Fabricio Coloccini and Jonas Gutierrez will hope to continue their impressive start to their Newcastle careers.

If the Newcastle players can repeat the sort of commitment and performance like they showed at Old Trafford, they will give the sold out away section plenty to shout about.