CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SLOT:Newcastle United v Arsenal - 'What is at stake is a desire to stay at the top and to play top-level European football,' says Wenger

>Arsenal are unbeaten in their last nine league matches, winning seven of them. 

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew: "My hope is that Fabricio Coloccini stays at this fantastic club and I hope our fans give him that message on Sunday."

Team news: Central defender Steven Taylor will return to the Newcastle squad after missing the 2-1 victory at relegated QPR last weekend, which secured the Magpies' Barclays Premier League status, through illness, but has returned to training. Midfielder Sylvain Marveaux is fully fit after a groin injury but keeper Rob Elliot is suspended following his dismissal at Loftus Road and 38-year-old Steve Harper will make what is likely to be his final appearance for the club after 20 years on Tyneside with Tim Krul nursing a dislocated shoulder.

Newcastle United (from): Harper, Alnwick, Debuchy, Simpson, Santon, S. Taylor, Coloccini, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Perch, Tiote, Bigirimana, Cabaye, Anita, Gutierrez, Ben Arfa, Marveaux, Gosling, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi, Cisse, Gouffran, Campbell.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: "We are in a position where nobody expected us to be. We have our destiny in our own hands."

Team news: Arsenal have a major doubt over midfielder Mikel Arteta (calf) and England international Jack Wilshere, set to have an operation on his troublesome ankle next week, is on stand-by should he deemed fit enough to start and play on painkillers. Striker Olivier Giroud returned from a three-match suspension. Midfielder Abou Diaby (knee) is a long-term absentee.

Arsenal (from): Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Cazorla, Walcott, Ramsey, Rosicky, Arteta, Giroud, Fabianski, Podolski, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Wilshere, Vermaelen, Coquelin, Gervinho, Jenkinson, Gibbs.

Match Appointments
Referee: Howard Webb. Assistants: M Mullarkey, D Cann. Fourth Official: K Friend.

Arsenal

• Arsenal are unbeaten in their last nine league matches, winning seven of them.
• Arsenal have won four successive Premier League away games. The last time that the Gunners won five in a row away in the league was back in September 2004.
• Four Arsenal players have scored 10 or more league goals this season, more than any other top-flight club - it's only the fourth time in the Premier League era that four players from one club have reached doubles figures.
• Just four players have reached double figures in both goal and assist categories in the Premier League this season, with two of these Arsenal players (Theo Walcott has 14 goals, 10 assists, and Santi Cazorla has 12 goals, 11 assists).
• If only the second half of games counted, Arsenal would already have been crowned Premier League champions.