Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has admitted that the Gunners have not forgotten the defeat they suffered at the hands of Newcastle last season.

While Xhaka’s team only lost 2-0 at St James’ Park back in May, the Magpies were dominant, and the Swiss international says the humbling is on the players’ minds ahead of the fixture this weekend:

“We don’t forget the game we had last season when, I have to be honest, they destroyed us. They were much better, they wanted it much more, we have to go there and we have to show them we are ready and deserve to be where we are. But it will be a very tough game because Newcastle are doing a very good job.”

That performance against Arsenal at the end of the last season kind of set the standard for the following campaign. Manager Eddie Howe set his team up to press from the front, hounding and harassing their opponents for the full 90 minutes.

On that day, the Gunners simply couldn’t compete, but it is important to point out that they are a much better side this season, and Sunday’s contest is likely to be a tightly-contested affair.

With Arsenal likely to be without their two first-choice centre-backs, though, you would still fancy Newcastle’s chances of securing the three points.