Granit Xhaka has predicted a 'very tough' game against Newcastle United on Sunday after the Magpies 'destroyed' his Arsenal side at St James' Park last season.
Newcastle ran out 2-0 winners when the two teams met in the corresponding fixture last season and there is even more at stake in Sunday's rematch. Not only are Arsenal needing a win to keep their title hopes alive - Newcastle can take another giant step towards qualifying for the Champions League with all three points.
Arsenal certainly won't need reminding of what happened 356 days earlier on Tyneside. At half-time last season, with the score still goalless, Xhaka hammered his team-mates in the dressing room, turning the air blue and telling them they were 'playing like a second division team'. However, those strong words did not have the desired effect and Newcastle ended up winning the game 2-0 following an own goal from Ben White and a late strike from Bruno Guimaraes.
