Mesut Ozil missed out as Arsenal attempted to return to the top of the Barclays Premier League table with victory at Newcastle.
The Germany international did not even make the bench as he, Thomas Vermaelen, Mikel Arteta and Aaron Ramsey made way for Jack Wilshere following suspension, Laurent Koscielny, Mathieu Flamini and Tomas Rosicky.
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew recalled midfielder Cheick Tiote after his one-match ban with the Ivory Coast international, who scored a late equaliser in a dramatic 4-4 draw between the sides three seasons ago, replacing Hatem Ben Arfa in the only change to the side which beat nine-man Stoke 5-1 on Boxing Day.
Newcastle: Krul, Debuchy, Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Tiote, Anita, Sissoko, Cabaye, Gouffran, Remy. Subs: Cisse, Ben Arfa, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara, Elliot, Shola Ameobi, Sammy Ameobi.
Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Flamini, Wilshere, Walcott, Cazorla, Rosicky, Giroud. Subs: Arteta, Podolski, Fabianski, Bendtner, Jenkinson, Miyaichi, Gnabry.
