Arsene Wenger will welcome Mathieu Flamini back into the Arsenal ranks for the Barclays Premier League visit of Newcastle on Saturday.
The midfielder sat out the recent win over Bournemouth with a minor ankle problem but is now fit to return and could replace Calum Chambers alongside Aaron Ramsey for the clash with the struggling Magpies.
Alexis Sanchez (hamstring) is pencilled in to return in the FA Cup next weekend while Jack Wilshere (leg), Mikel Arteta (calf), Francis Coquelin, Danny Welbeck, Santi Cazorla and Tomas Rosicky (all knee) are missing.
Provisional squad: Cech, Ospina, Monreal, Gibbs, Koscielny, Gabriel, Mertesacker, Bellerin, Debuchy, Chambers, Ramsey, Flamini, Ozil, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Reine-Adelaide, Iwobi, Campbell, Walcott, Giroud.
Arsenal vs Bournemouth - player ratings
Arsenal host Newcastle on January 2.
