Newcastle vs Arsenal team news: Mesut Ozil ruled out and Olivier Giroud dropped as Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain start
Both sides make three changes from their respective goalless draws last weekend
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Your support makes all the difference.Olivier Giroud has been dropped from the Arsenal side that takes on Newcastle this afternoon as manager Arsene Wenger makes three changes following Monday's 0-0 draw with Liverpool.
With Giroud named on the bench, Theo Walcott is given the chance to lead the attack against the Magpies, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain coming in midfield with Mesut Özil ruled out with a minor knee injury.
Laurent Koscielny has recovered from a minor back strain after passing a fitness test on Thursday, and the Frenchman comes in for the unimpressive Calum Chambers after the England international struggled during the goalless draw with Liverpool.
Chambers is named on the bench alongside Giroud, but Per Mertesacker remains unavailable as he continues to suffer from a chest infection.
Newcastle manager Steve McClaren also makes three changes to the side that drew 0-0 with Manchester United last weekend. Having made his Newcastle debut in the Capital One Cup in midweek, Florian Thauvin is named in midfield for his debut Premier League start, and is joined by a fi-again Moussa Sissoko, with the pair coming in for Ayoze Perez and Gabriel Obertan.
In defence Steven Taylor is dropped to the bench as Daryl Janmaat returns from suspension at right-back, meaning Chancel Mbemba switches back to a centre position alongside Fabricio Coloccini.
Teams:
Newcastle: Krul, Janmaat , Coloccini, Mbemba, Haidara, Anita, Wijnaldum, Sissoko, Colback, Thauvin, Mitrovic
Subs: Darlow, Taylor, Tiote, Obertan, De Jong, Perez, Cisse
Arsenal: Cech, Bellerin, Koscielny, Gabriel, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ramsey, Sanchez, Walcott
Subs: Ospina, Debuchy, Gibbs, Chambers, Arteta, Campbell, Giroud
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