Arsenal vs Newcastle team news: Mathieu Debuchy starts at centre-back but no place for Lukas Podolski
Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck start in attack despite Podolski's two goals in the Champions League midweek
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Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal have named Mathieu Debuchy alongside Per Mertesacker at centre-back in the absence of Laurent Koscielny and Calum Chambers for the visit of Newcastle to the Emirates Stadium.
Koscielny picked up a calf strain midweek and with Chambers suspended following his red card in last week’s 3-2 defeat to Stoke, Hector Bellerin comes in on the right having played in the midweek 4-1 victory over Galatasaray at left-back.
In attack, Olivier Giroud, Danny Welbeck and Alexis Sanchez all start for just the second time, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain continuing his record of playing in every game for the Gunners so far this season.
Francis Coquelin is included on the bench having been recalled from a loan spell at Charlton on Friday, while Lukas Podolski has to make do with a place among the substitutes despite scoring twice in Turkey.
Newcastle start with third-choice goalkeeper Jak Alnwick – younger brother of Tottenham’s Ben Alnwick – deputising for the absent Tim Krul and Rob Elliot having appeared from the bench to make his competitive debut in last week’s shock 2-0 win over Chelsea.
Mike Williamson comes into a back four that is missing Steven Taylor after he was sent-off last week, while Yoan Gouffran starts in midfield in place of the suspended Moussa Sissoko. Papiss Cisse returns to the starting line-up having scored both goals against the Blues, with Remy Cabella dropping to the bench.
Line-ups:
Arsenal: Szczesny, Bellerin, Debuchy, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Flamini, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Alexis, Welbeck, Giroud
Subs: Martinez, Ajayi, Coquelin, Maitland-Niles, Campbell, Podolski, Sanogo
Newcastle: Alnwick; Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini (c), Dummett; Tiote, Colback; Gouffran, Perez, Ameobi; Cisse
Subs: Woodman, Haidara, Anita, Vuckic, Cabella, Armstrong, Riviere
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