When is Arsenal vs Newcastle United?
It's on Saturday at 3pm GMT. That means, annoyingly, you won't be able to watch it live. However, we can do that for you and relay all the live action via the magic of live blog, which is what this handy guide will turn into come match day.
What TV channel is the game on?
It isn't, and unless you enjoy trying to decipher Paul Merson on Sky's Soccer Saturday, your best bet is to follow our live blog and then watch Match of the Day at 10.30pm on BBC1.
Mesut Ozil. Not on TV
Team news
Newcastle midfielder Vurnon Anita is out of Saturday's trip to Arsenal through injury. The Dutchman limped off with a hamstring problem during Monday's 1-0 defeat at West Brom and has become the latest addition to a lengthy casualty list which also includes goalkeeper Rob Elliot, who is battling a stomach bug.
Midfielder Rolando Aarons (foot) and striker Emmanuel Riviere (knee) are back in training, but keeper Tim Krul (knee ligaments), defenders Mike Williamson and Steven Taylor (both hamstring) and Massadio Haidara (knee), midfielder Gabriel Obertan (also hamstring) and striker Papiss Cisse (groin) are all out.
Provisional squad: Elliot, Darlow, Janmaat, Dummett, Coloccini, Mbemba, Lascelles, Mbabu, Sterry, Colback, Wijnaldum, Sissoko, Thauvin, De Jong, Gouffran, Mitrovic, Perez, Toney.
• Premier League half-term reports: how is your team doing?
What are the managers saying?
We have a good chance on winning the league as the statistics show you that eight of the past 11 years the team who was top on New Year's Day won it. I believe that we are mature enough and that we have the requested quality to fight and compete. You question our mentality, I don't. We have to rise above that and show that we can deal with all that and I believe we have to be guided by playing better football and being a real team in every game and show that we can be competitive - Arsene Wenger
We have to keep the mentality strong, keep trying to talk about the positives. We can't wallow in defeat and won't celebrate too hard in victory because the next one is just around the corner. We have always moved on quickly. It's a long season. That is the first half over, we have a little break, review it, and get ready for the second half in the New Year - Steve McClaren
Jeremy Wilson's match notes
Arsenal accumulated more points than any other Premier League club in 2015 but they did also achieve that feat in 2013 without getting close to subsequently winning the title. Proving that they can do it over a season is the challenge and a home fixture against Newcastle - in need of the points for very different reasons - should represent a relatively straightforward start to 2016.
Prediction: 2-0
Per Mertesacker - not a striker
What are the odds?
Arsenal: 3/10
Newcastle: 12/1
Draw: 11/2
Newcastle fans are not full of festive cheer Photo: Getty
• Jason Burt's Premier League team of 2015
How Arsenal can win
Two words... Mesut Ozil! The 27-year-old club-record signing has been immaculate in recent weeks and has already notched up 16 assists in the league this season. The latest came in Monday's 2-0 win over Bournemouth, with Ozil then adding the second goal himself after neat interplay with Olivier Giroud. Wenger has hailed the German as the "complete athlete" and if he runs the show, Arsenal win.
How Newcastle can win
Fight for their lives. Newcastle have reached the halfway point in the season with just 17 points to show for their efforts and two shy of safety, a situation which is way short of expectations after a £52 million-plus summer investment programme. McLaren's team doesn't have the players to match the Gunners for quality, but target Ozil and give him no space to orchestrate Arsenal's attacks, and Newcastle could cause an upset.
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