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Arsenal v Newcastle: French Trio Start
Written by Newcastle Utd
Loic Remy, Mathieu Debuchy and Moussa Sissoko all return to the United starting line-up at Arsenal
By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
At the Emirates Stadium
Loic Remy, Mathieu Debuchy and Moussa Sissoko all return to the Newcastle United starting line-up as the Magpies travel to Arsenal on Monday night.
Remy and Debuchy made substitute appearances in last weekend's defeat to Swansea following seven weeks out with respective calf and groin injuries, while Sissoko has missed the last three games with a hamstring complaint.
But the trio of French internationals are handed starting spots at the Emirates Stadium as United look to end a run of five successive Barclays Premier League defeats.
Those are the only three changes to Alan Pardew's team, with Shola Ameobi dropping down to the substitutes' bench, and Papiss Cisse and Luuk de Jong ruled out through injury.
Newcastle are expected to start in a 4-4-1-1 formation, with goalkeeper Tim Krul behind a back four of Debuchy, Mike Williamson, captain Fabricio Coloccini and Paul Dummett,
Dan Gosling and Yoan Gouffran could take up roles on either flank, with Vurnon Anita and Cheick Tiote patrolling the middle of the park.
And Sissoko is expected to be deployed in the number ten role, just behind 13-goal leading scorer Remy.
On the substitutes' bench there is a return for Gabriel Obertan, who has not appeared in the top flight since the start of December.
And the former Manchester United winger is joined by Ameobi, Adam Armstrong, Steven Taylor, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Massadio Haidara and Rob Elliot.
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Wojciech Szczesny; Bacary Sagna, Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal; Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey; Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla, Lukas Podolski; Olivier Giroud
Substitutes: Lukasz Fabianski, Carl Jenkinson, Thomas Vermaelen, Kim Kallstrom, Mathieu Flamini, Tomas Rosicky, Yaya Sanogo
Newcastle United (4-4-1-1): Tim Krul; Mathieu Debuchy, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Paul Dummett; Dan Gosling, Vurnon Anita, Cheick Tiote, Yoan Gouffran; Moussa Sissoko; Loic Remy
Substitutes: Rob Elliot, Massadio Haidara, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Steven Taylor, Gabriel Obertan, Adam Armstrong, Shola Ameobi
Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)