Good afternoon and welcome to our live text coverage of Arsenal v Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium.

Lacazette is released and he fires a shot from the left side of the penalty area. It is blocked but Bellerin picks up the loose ball but again Newcastle block the shot.

Arsenal clear the resulting corner at the near post, but only as far as Yedlin just outside the penalty box. His wild effort is sent into row-Z, though.

Newcastle register with their first shot on goal as a free-kick delivery finds Lascelles but he fails to generate much power in his header and Cech can save quite comfortably.

Arsenal will return to the top four with a victory, if Burnley drop points at Brighton. Palace's victory at Leicester earlier today mean Newcastle are now 17th, only a point ahead of West Ham.

Lacazette launches a decent strike from 25 yards but it's straight at the returning Elliot.

Newcastle have lost their last five away matches at Arsenal, with their most recent victory being 1-0 in November 2010.

As you may expect, Arsenal start the game on the front foot as Bellerin forces a corner after a give-and-go with Sanchez.

The game is underway!

Arsenal have won nine successive Premier League games against Newcastle, scoring 22 goals and conceding just six.

Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez: "Arsenal are a fantastic team with a great manager with a lot of experience. On paper some games are more difficult than others, but every game is a challenge for us.

"We have what we have, we are what we are. That is the reality. We have to stay united if we want to come through this.

"The target is still 20 points by Christmas but, yes, it will be hard."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: "At the moment there is a difference between points we get and the domination we have in the game.

"Of course it is down to the fact that we've played recently against two teams who defended extremely well at home.

"Maybe we have to speed up our passing and have more penetrating runs in the final third to create more chances. Maybe we need support for our central strikers in the box as well."

Arsene Wenger makes only change for Arsenal as they look their first win in four, with Alexandre Lacazette replacing Olivier Giroud.

Rob Elliot replaces Karl Darlow in goal, Hayden replaces the suspended Jonjo Shelvey while Jacob Murphy returns to the squad. Ayoze Perez and Joselu play in attack, while Dwight Gayle is a surprise omission.

And here's the Newcastle United team that will take on Arsene Wenger's men...

The big news for Arsenal is that Alex Lacazette comes in for Olivier Giroud...