Good morning and welcome to Newcastle vs Arsenal LIVE… brought to you by Arsenal’s official car and van rental partner Europcar.

Arsene Wenger’s team face a trip up north to visit Newcastle’s St James Park in the weekend’s first Premier League clash.

Both sides have endured rather stop-start beginnings to the campaign, with the Gunners having registered a win, loss and draw, while Steve McClaren’s side have chalked up just two points so far.

After the 0-0 stalemate with Liverpool at Emirates Stadium, Wenger should be able to welcome Per Mertesacker back from illness with the Arsenal manager burdened with no fresh injury concerns, with Jack Wilshere and Danny Welbeck targeting returns next month.

Newcastle are fresh from a 4-1 midweek victory against Northampton in the Capital One Cup, with new signing Florian Thauvin scoring three minutes into his debut and assisting with his side’s three other goals.

Follow all the action, as it happens, here with Europcar’s most excellent live blog: