Arsenal got their Premier League title push back on track with a 1-0 win over Newcastle in north London. Eberechi Eze’s brilliant strike from distance after nine minutes proved enough for a result that moved the Gunners three points clear of Manchester City, who have a game in hand due to their FA Cup semi-final involvement against Southampton.
Mikel Arteta’s side were largely lacklustre in attack and had to survive some nervy moments at the other end, including one big chance missed by Yoane Wissa. However, Arsenal held on to bounce back from consecutive league defeats to Bournemouth and Man City and keep themselves right in the title race.
Newcastle have now suffered five successive defeats in all competitions and shouts of being dragged into a Premier League relegation battle may grow even louder as the pressure mounts on head coach Eddie Howe, who will have been encouraged by certain aspects of the performance. Follow the game back below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Matt Verri at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal vs Newcastle highlights
- GOAL! Eze gives Arsenal the lead with a stunning finish
Matt Verri at Emirates Stadium
19:29 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneArsenal get the job done. Just. Bit of a masterclass in how not to manage a game in stoppage-time but it's enough to go three points clear at the top.
FULL-TIME
19:28 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneArsenal 1-0 Newcastle
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
19:27 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne90+8 min: Tonali’s delivery is really poor and that will be that.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
19:27 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne90+7 min: This is it. Hincapie fouls Elanga and Pope is going up for this free-kick...
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
19:26 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne90+6 min: 30 seconds left...
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
19:25 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne90+6 min: All hands to the pump for Arsenal now as Tonali wins a corner.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
19:23 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne90+4 min: Newcastle send everyone up for free-kick Arsenal defend it well. A counter-attack chance opens up for the Gunners but it’s a bad ball from Gyokeres with Saka in acres of space.
Matt Verri at Emirates Stadium
19:20 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneTo say the seven minutes of stoppage-time has not gone down well among the Arsenal fans around the press box would be a serious understatement...
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
19:20 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne90 min: THE ANSWER IS SEVEN ADDED MINUTES.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
19:19 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne89 min: All eyes on the board, how much stoppage time will we have?
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
19:17 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne87 min: Much better from Arsenal in terms of speed of attack. Odegaard has a go but Pope stops the effort sneaking in at his near post, conceding a corner instead which is dealt with eventually.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
19:15 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne85 min: Rice booked for dissent as Elanga is brought on for ex-Arsenal midfielder Joe Willock.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
19:13 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne83 min: Interestingly, Lewis-Skelly is on for Zubimendi. Looks like he will be getting sime minutes in midfield unless it is a change of system from Arsenal.
Newcastle get in down the right, Barnes stands up a cross for Burn who heads straight at Raya before Gyokeres wins a corner off Botman.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
19:12 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne82 min: Saka, on for Madueke, is straight into the action and wins a corner which is cleared to Martinelli but his acrobatic effort is straight at Pope.
Matt Verri at Emirates Stadium
19:10 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneWhere is Arsenal's midfield? Woltemade has so much space to scoop that pass over and Wissa should really make it 1-1. Arsenal are asking for trouble.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
19:09 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne80 min: CHANCE!
Woltemade with a lovely dinked pass for Wissa but he can’t keep his effort down. Massive chance for Newcastle to equalise.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
19:07 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne77 min: While there was a VAR review for that Pope tackle, Woltemade has come on for Guimaraes.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
19:06 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne76 min: From the resulting free-kick, Rice whips in a great cross but none of his team-mates gambled. He has every right to be annoyed with the lack of movement.
Matt Verri at Emirates Stadium
19:04 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneAfter refusing to play in the striker for much of the match, Odegaard finally does look forward and goes in behind for Gyokeres. Pope makes an almighty mess of it and hauls Gyokeres down. Can be grateful that is only a yellow card.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
19:04 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne74 min: What a mess! Pope comes off his line but misjudges the flight of the ball and takes out Gyokeres in the process. It is a yellow card for the Newcastle keeper as there was a defender behind him.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
19:03 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne73 min: Madueke does well to slip in Zubimendi but the Spaniard can’t get a shot away.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
19:02 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne72 min: Decent opening for Arsenal, one they can’t take as Zubimendi’s scooped pass goes out of play. Gyokeres caught on his heels too.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
19:00 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne71 min: Really good defending by Tonali to get back at Martinelli after the Brazilian latched on to a long throw by Raya. Arsenal decide to recycle the ball instead of going for the throat and Martinelli ends up getting a booking for a lunge on Willock.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
18:57 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne67 min: Wissa is on for Newcastle and Arsenal fans won’t want reminding that he has scored on his last two visits to the Emirates...
Matt Verri at Emirates Stadium
18:56 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneArsenal fans so frustrated as Rice tries to cut inside rather than getting a shot away in the box. The home side have made this a very, very tense 25 final minutes for themselves.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
18:55 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne66 min: Ball breaks kindly for Rice and he advances on goal but decides against the shot and loses the chance. At the other end, Gabriel diverts Tonali’s long range strike before Wissa and Barnes replace Osula and Murphy.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
18:53 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne63 min: Arsenal have a corner. They play it short, Madueke doesn’t make the most of it and the Gunners are forced all the way back to Raya who then gifts the ball straight to Pope.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
18:50 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne60 min: Break in play as Botman requires treatment for a head injury after the Newcastle defender was caught late, accidentally, by Hincapie.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
18:48 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne58 min: Odegaard plays the free-kick short to Madueke who shoots straight at Burn’s legs. Wasted opportunity for the Gunners, who still have not got going in this second half.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
18:47 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne57 min: First yellow card of the game is shown to Burn for pulling back Gyokeres. Free-kick to Arsenal in a promising position, Madueke, Odegaard and Gabriel in deep discussion.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
18:45 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne55 min: Rice with a decent ball in from a free-kick but it evades everyone before going out of play and the offside flag was up anyway.
Matt Verri at Emirates Stadium
18:43 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThis is turning into a disaster for Arsenal. Eze down off the ball and he can't continue. Positive perhaps that he's taken a seat on the bench rather than headed straight down the tunnel.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
18:43 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne53 min: And there is the change. Martinelli replaces Eze who then has a briefing with Arteta before taking his seat in the dugout. Arsenal will hope that’s nothing too serious.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
18:41 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne51 min: Nice Newcastle move sees Miley’s cross to the back post find Ramsey but his dinked cross is cleared. Another concern for Arsenal as Eze is down and Rice has gestured for a substitution.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
18:39 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne49 min: A short delay to proceedings to fix some referee equipment. Arsenal get play restarted and Gyokeres does much better on this occasion as he makes the ball stick from a long ball.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
18:36 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne46 min: No changes from either side at the break. Would expect Arsenal to start the second half on the front foot, but that’s not been the case for many games in recent weeks.
KICK-OFF!
18:34 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneBack underway in north London.
As things stands, Arsenal are heading back to the top of the Premier League table.
Arsenal vs Newcastle highlights
18:31 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneJust the one goal so far, but what a strike from Eberechi Eze.
What a BEAUTY from Eberechi Eze! 😍 pic.twitter.com/lnqt3aBni8
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 25, 2026
Fan reaction: Second half plan
18:28 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneSaka is needed in the second half. shoot the ball on sight!! Madueke should've had 3/4shots at Pope!! #ARSNEW
— Ntakhwana (@KalangaGent_) April 25, 2026
Fan thoughts: Arsenal supporters nervous
18:25 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneHalf time; Arsenal 1 - Newcastle 0.
— Carl Bovis ⚽ (@CarlBovis_AFC) April 25, 2026
Not great, Newcastle have had 3x as many shots as we have, yet we lead thanks to a nicely worked corner, finished beautifully by Eze.
Arsenal need to up the tempo 2nd half, it's the slow build up that's making the fans nervous..#ARSNEW
Fan reaction: Arsenal must improve
18:23 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneWe need more goals and press more ! a bit more urgency #ARSNEW
— Nivaldo Armindo (@NIvaldo12345) April 25, 2026
Matt Verri at Emirates Stadium
18:20 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneOne moment of magic but otherwise very little in attack from Arsenal. This new league, as Arteta has called it, feels a lot like the old one.
HALF-TIME
18:18 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneArsenal 1-0 Newcastle
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
18:18 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne45+3 min: Gyokeres penalised for a foul and that could be the last action of the half. Tonali to take a free-kick from deep...and the ball floats straight through to Raya as the whistle goes.
Matt Verri at Emirates Stadium
18:16 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneArsenal have gone long to Gyokeres three times since he's come on and on each occasion he didn't even jump. Just half backing into the defender isn't really going to cut it at this level.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
18:15 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne45 min: Three minutes of stoppage time has been signalled.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
18:13 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne43 min: Good pressing from White forces a mistake from Burn but Arsenal fail to make the most of the opportunity.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
18:12 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne41 min: Waste of a free-kick from Newcastle as it is played short to Tonali who shoots straight at Odegaard.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
18:11 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne40 min: Patient play from Arsenal, not quite sure this is the best approach when it’s only 1-0. On the flip side, there is an argument that they are trying to draw Newcastle out but they concede a free-kick in a dangerous area after Saliba fouls Guimaraes.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
18:08 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne38 min: Burn with a speculative effort as the ball sits up kindly for him following Gabriel’s headed clearance. Less said about the shot the better as it was never testing Raya.
Matt Verri at Emirates Stadium
18:05 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneWill Arsenal ever get the chance to play Odegaard, Havertz, Eze and Saka together? It won't be happening today, as Havertz trudges off.
Big blow for Arsenal, who get one key player back from injury but then lose another.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
18:04 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne34 min: And there is the change, Gyokeres replaces Havertz in a straight swap up top for the Gunners.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
18:03 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne33 min: Concern for Arsenal as Havertz has an issue. Gyokeres has been called back from his warm-up and is being readied to come on. The injury curse looks to have struck again.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
18:02 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne32 min: More threat from Newcastle as Willock shoots over from just outside the area. Visitors are certainly in this game as Arsenal haven’t looked like extending their lead.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
18:00 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne30 min: Tonali tests Raya from range, the Arsenal keeper takes one step to his right but is able to get a hand to the shot to keep the ball out of his net.
Matt Verri at Emirates Stadium
17:59 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneBig ovation for Saka as he jogs along the touchline to warm up for the first time this evening. Sure the plan will be to give him some minutes off the bench in the second half.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
17:59 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne29 min: Great reception for Saka from the Arsenal fans as makes his way out for a warm-up. Madueke then sees a cross cut out before Newcastle race up the other end and win a corner.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
17:56 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne26 min: Arsenal in full flow down the right, nice play between Odegaard and Madueke but Zubimendi can’t gather the former’s flick into his path and Newcastle get enough bodies back.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
17:54 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne24 min: Free-kick to Newcastle in a dangerous position, taken by Guimaraes but it’s cleared by an Arsenal head, out to Ramsey who shoots well wide from an awkward angle.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
17:53 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne22 min: Lovely touch from Madueke to bring the ball out of the sky but his shot is weak.
Matt Verri at Emirates Stadium
17:52 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneOdegaard and Rice leading the way for touches for Arsenal so far.
Odegaard basically has a free role in possession, roaming around the pitch wherever he wants. Rice dropping really deep alongside the centre-backs and leaving that space in midfield for Odegaard to drop into.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
17:48 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne18 min: Decent response this from Newcastle to falling behind. Seeing loads of the ball as Raya collects Miley’s teasing cross. Next step for the visitors is to get some shots on target and Willock does just that but Raya is equal to it.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
17:46 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne16 min: Havertz nearly threads the ball through a tight gap for Odegaard but the pass is cut out and Newcastle build an attack. Gabriel with two important headers to ease the pressure.
Matt Verri at Emirates Stadium
17:41 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneMore groans... and this time Eze hammers the strike past Pope! Arsenal have clearly identified something with Newcastle defending short corners and it's worked.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle | Eberechi Eze '9
17:40 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne9 min: ARSENAL LEAD!
Eberechi Eze gives Arsenal the perfect start, stunning finish after a well-worked corner.
Matt Verri at Emirates Stadium
17:38 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneGroans when Arsenal took their first corner shot and even louder groans when they do the same with the next one. All is nearly forgiven when Eze lets fly from distance. Decent effort but dragged wide.
Arsenal 0-0 Newcastle
17:37 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne7 min: Better from Arsenal as Madueke puts the ball into a dangerous area but it’s cleared for a second corner in quick succession, it’s taken short to Eze who pulls an effort wide.
Matt Verri at Emirates Stadium
17:34 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneCouple of nervy moments already for Arsenal. Guimaraes and Osula have both found a lot of space in dangerous areas. Need to sharpen up at the back.
Arsenal 0-0 Newcastle
17:34 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne4 min: Really poor start from Zubimendi as he is caught in possession and the ball breaks kindly for Guimaraes who can’t keep his effort under the bar. Newcastle look up for this.
Arsenal 0-0 Newcastle
17:31 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne1 min: Nearly a disastrous start for Arsenal as Osula miskicks when bearing down on goal.
KICK-OFF!
17:30 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneAway we go!
As it stands
17:28 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneArsenal will return to the top of the Premier League table as long as they avoid defeat this evening.
Newcastle, meanwhile, can move to within a point of bitter rivals Sunderland with a win here.
HERE WE GO!
17:26 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThe teams are out!
Kick-off is next.
Warning for Arsenal
17:25 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneLike Arsenal, Newcastle are also in poor form at the moment.
However, the Magpies' last win did come in London - against Chelsea six weeks ago.
The Gunners have been warned.
Matt Verri at Emirates Stadium
17:25 , Tashan Deniran-AlleynePerfect evening in north London - will Arsenal produce the football to go with it?
Their lead at the top of the table has gone but the fixture list - at home to Newcastle here and Fulham next weekend - has presented Arsenal with the chance to go six points clear before City are next in Premier League action.
Pivotal that the Guners pile the pressure on their title rivals.
Around the grounds
17:20 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneSunderland 0-5 Nottingham Forest
Fulham 1-0 Aston Villa
Liverpool 3-1 Crystal Palace
West Ham 2-1 Everton
Wolves 0-1 Tottenham
Kick-off approaching in north London
17:15 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne15 minutes to go until kick-off at the Emirates Stadium.
Real reason why Man City are above Arsenal in Premier League table
17:10 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneA third Premier League win on the spin for Manchester City has seen them reel in and now overtake Arsenal, who not so long ago had a nine-point advantage at the top of the table.
As things currently stand, Man City and Arsenal have near-identical records. Both have won 21 games, drawn seven, lost five and have the same goal difference of +37 after 33 games played.
Interestingly though, Man City sit above Arsenal in the table.
Click here for the reason why!
Arsenal hit with UEFA fine
17:05 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneArsenal have been fined by UEFA for fan incidents during their Champions League match with Bayer Leverkusen.
Mikel Arteta's side drew 1-1 in the first leg of the last-16 tie with Leverkusen in Germany, before then winning 2-0 on home soil a week later to progress through to the quarter-finals.
The latest set of UEFA sanctions have been set and Arsenal have been handed a €2,250 (£1,947) fine for the "lighting of fireworks" by away fans against Leverkusen.
That relates to flares - which are prohibited by UEFA - being lit by Arsenal supporters.
Matt Verri at Emirates Stadium
17:02 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneArteta on Calafiori: "He was very close, but we have certain players that are coming back from injuries and can play certain moments as well, and we need to be balanced in what we need to."
Team news reminder
17:00 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneHere is how both teams will line-up today.
Arsenal XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard, Madueke, Eze, Havertz.
Substitutes: Arrizabalaga, Lewis-Skelly, Mosquera, Saka, Martinelli, Trossard, Dowman, Gyokeres, Jesus.
Newcastle XI: Pope, Miley, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Guimaraes, Tonali, Ramsey, Murphy, Osula, Willock
Substitutes: Ramsdale, Trippier, Hall, Wissa, Barnes, Elanga, Woltemade, A.Murphy, Neave.
Matt Verri at Emirates Stadium
16:55 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneA good chance we get our first look of Havertz, Saka, Odegaard and Eze being on the pitch at the same time this afternoon.
A lot of talk this season about tactics and approach - simply having their best attackers available will make a huge difference.
Arsenal changes
16:50 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneJust the one change to the Arsenal side that started last weekend's 2-1 loss to Man City as Ben White replaces Cristhian Mosquera at right-back.
Bukayo Saka is back for the Gunners, though is only fit enough for the bench.
Fan reaction: Arteta criticism?
16:45 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneHe really won’t change things will he, he’ll always be predictable #ARSNEW
— Marvell (@DGBG2M) April 25, 2026
Fan thoughts: Newcastle concern
16:42 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThis Newcastle team haven’t come to play football, they’ve come to disrupt. Arsenal I hope you are ready. #ARSNEW
— AFC Zone (@afczonex) April 25, 2026
Fan reaction: Arsenal mission
16:38 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneArsenal is getting that 3pts today
— Kenñson (@whoiskennson) April 25, 2026
Let’s go!! #ARSNEW
Matt Verri at Emirates Stadium
16:35 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneMatt Verri is in position for us at the Emirates Stadium to look ahead to the task that faces Arsenal this evening.
🗣 "Goal difference debates and that kind of thing can wait for another day, there will be chances maybe later in the season for Arsenal to deal with that."@MattVerri looks ahead to #AFC taking on #NUFC
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) April 25, 2026
LIVE: https://t.co/sDt1pQZ5bp#ARSNEW pic.twitter.com/snboaUqHB7
Newcastle team in full
16:30 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneNewcastle XI: Pope, Miley, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Guimaraes, Tonali, Ramsey, Murphy, Osula, Willock
Substitutes: Ramsdale, Trippier, Hall, Wissa, Barnes, Elanga, Woltemade, A.Murphy, Neave.
Arsenal team in full
16:25 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneArsenal XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard, Madueke, Eze, Havertz.
Substitutes: Arrizabalaga, Lewis-Skelly, Mosquera, Saka, Martinelli, Trossard, Dowman, Gyokeres, Jesus.
CONFIRMED NEWCASTLE TEAM NEWS
16:20 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneLining up for the visitors this evening...
UNITED 👊 pic.twitter.com/6wwwfIJMDg
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) April 25, 2026
CONFIRMED ARSENAL TEAM NEWS
16:15 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneHere is the Arsenal team selected by Mikel Arteta...
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 25, 2026
🔙 White returns
✨ Eze and Odegaard bringing the creativity
🫡 Havertz leads the line
Relish the battle, Gunners 💪
🤝 Presented by @deel
Arsenal vs Newcastle LIVE - team news imminent
16:13 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThe teams will be announced shortly!
Stay tuned...
Mikel Arteta must plot Arsenal reset
16:10 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneIn a title race that could well come down to goal difference, Arsenal might have taken Manchester City only winning by three or four after their fast start against Burnley, writes Matt Verri.
That the full-time whistle blew with Burnley only beaten 1-0 felt a fairly decent result for the Gunners, then, even if it did knock them off the top of the Premier League for the first time since early October.
City had 28 shots and registered an xG of 3.4 in an incredibly wasteful display. This was not the dominant, statement win it could - and should - have been.
The stage is now set for what Mikel Arteta has described as a "new league".
Mikel Arteta reveals new Arsenal demand for Premier League title run-in
16:05 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneMikel Arteta demanded his Arsenal players go "all in" ahead of what he is viewing as the first game of the Premier League run-in.
The Gunners host Newcastle this evening and they have the chance to move three points clear of Manchester City for the time being.
As it stands, Arsenal and City are level on points, wins, draws, defeats and goal difference with just five matches of the season remaining.
Arteta has declared it is now a "new league" and he is viewing Newcastle's visit as the first match of that.
Mikel Arteta provides Mikel Merino Arsenal return update
16:00 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneSpeaking of Mikel Merino, he is "pushing every boundary" to return for Arsenal before the end of the season.
The Spaniard has been on the sidelines since he came off the bench to score in a defeat to Manchester United in January.
Merino underwent surgery on his right foot injury, one that Mikel Arteta described as "very rare". The midfielder's dad suggested there was "no history of this type of injury".
A timeline for Merino's return has remained unclear but he is out of his boot and has been going through exercises without pain.
Last time out
15:55 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneArsenal came from behind to beat Newcastle in the reverse fixture at St James' Park earlier in the season thanks to a pair of headers from Mikel Merino and Gabriel inside the final ten minutes.
Mikel Arteta backs Bukayo Saka
15:50 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneMikel Arteta has backed Bukayo Saka to step up and help fire Arsenal to Premier League glory.
The winger is expected to hand Arsenal a huge boost by returning to the squad when the Gunners host Newcastle.
Saka has been out with an Achilles injury since the Carabao Cup final and Arsenal have won just one of their five matches in his absence.
Arteta said Saka was in "great spirits" in training on Friday and he has urged one of his star players to produce the pieces of magic that could prove the difference in the title race.
Predicted Arsenal XI
15:45 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneBukayo Saka has been battling an Achilles injury and has not featured since the Carabao Cup final.
The England international has stepped up his recovery this week, with Mikel Arteta confirming in the pre-match press conference that the Arsenal No7 is set to be named in the matchday squad.
Although Saka is available again, it is unlikely he will come straight back into the starting lineup.
Arteta must decide to stick with the attacking formula that was largely a success against Man City last weekend, even if the Gunners were poor at converting their chances.
Predicted Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice; Madueke, Odegaard, Eze; Havertz.
Mikel Arteta plots Arsenal mental reset as 'new league' gets underway
15:40 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneIf Mikel Arteta's words are to be taken at face value, Arsenal have just completed the most gruelling pre-season of all time.
For more than eight months the Gunners have been preparing for this "new league", as Arteta has put it, only now getting themselves into the starter blocks.
A five-match sprint to the Premier League finish line is in front of them. Win out from here and there is every chance the title will be theirs.
That is the message being hammered into the Arsenal players, a concerted effort to reframe the situation and hush away the reality that the side are on a run of one win in six matches.
Click here to read Matt Verri's Arsenal vs Newcastle preview!
Today's settings
15:35 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneArsenal have lost just twice at home all season, though the most recent one - against Bournemouth a fortnight ago - could prove costly in the Premier League title race.
Click here to read the full blog on The The Standard's website
