It's possible that Sol Campbell will return to the defence. He missed last weekend's game following the death of his father, whose illness seemed to affect his game the previous week. Everyone will be keen to get him back playing as soon as possible, but the Arsenal.com preview says he's unlikely to be back today.

The other big question is whether or not Wenger brings Pires back. And if he does, will it be Parlour or Freddie who sits out? Arsenal looked stronger in midfield with the presence of the combative Englishman at Old Trafford, and it could be that Wenger is finally coming around to the view of many observers, that playing both Freddie and Bob is one luxury too far. On the other hand, it could just have been a reaction to a couple of particularly weak performances from Pires. If he is recalled, we expect the week off to have done some good and for him to show us a bit more as a result.

Newcastle still have Jonathan Woodgate missing through injury (a double hernia operation is scheduled for tonmorrow), so Titus Bramble and Andy O'Brien will be in the centre of defence. Lee Bowyer is back in the side having msised their 5-0 UEFA Cup win in midweek through suspension, and Laurent Robert plays his last match before starting a suspension. But Norberto Solano is a doubt with a groin problem. Craig Bellamy scored his first goals of the season in the European match and should start up front alongside Shearer, although Robson may decide to rest him since he's just returned from injury and this would be his 3rd game in 7 days.

It's going to be interesting to see how Arsenal react to Bellamy and Shearer, following Sunday's fun at Old Trafford. Shearer in particular can be almost as much of a wind-up merchant as van Nistelroy.

Arsenal go into the match unbeaten, and Newcastle go into it second from bottom and without a win. Last year we won the corresponding fixture thanks to a solitary goal from Wiltord, but the season before we lost 3-1 and attartected thr attention of the press with some bad-tempered reactions to some dodgy decisions (including unwarrented sendings off for both sides and a ridiculous penalty awarded to the visitors to give them the lead). Nothing changes.

And finally a word about the bizarre timing of this match. We can only assume that Sky wanted an extra match and the clubs didn't want it to be a Saturday lunchtime job. But when it was scheduled, everyone will presumably have been thinking that both clubs would have Champiosn League fixtures next week. The Friday kick-off suits Arsenal because we have to play again in Moscow on Tuesday. But since Newcastle got knocked out in the qualifying round, and since UEFA have (strangely) changed the UEFA Cup dates so as to be on different weeks to the Champs League, they come into this match only 2 days after that UEFA Cup game. Oops. [Add Rupe] It's been confirmed that their Sol is also out of the match. He didn't make the journey to London.