Good afternoon ladies and gents and welcome to our live text commentary as wounded Arsenal travel to struggling Newcastle keen to bounce back from the disappointment of exiting the Champions League this week.

Arsene Wenger's side tried in vein to reverse the damage of their 3-1 first-leg defeat at the Emirates by winning 2-0 at Monaco on Tuesday, but it was not enough to see them advance into the quarters as they slumped to a last-16 exit for the fifth successive year.

Good effort by Arsenal it has to be said, and it was not as much of a let-down as, say, the solar eclipse, and like that rare phenomenon, it'll probably be another 75 years before we see the North Londoners actually progress into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

But will they recover from that disappointment this afternoon or are they destined for a Champions League hangover? They should most definitely bounce back because, well, Newcastle only have 13 outfield players available and they're hardly ripping the Premier League apart at the moment, are they?

John Carver's side come into this on the back of a 3-0 defeat at Everton to leave them with just one win in their last six outings - a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa back when the Villans were still managed by Paul Lambert i.e completely hopeless.

It's been a baptism of fire of sorts for Carver, whose first foray into senior management has spawned just two wins in 10 games. Will he get the job on a full-time basis this summer? Will I get a job at Nasa? I think we know the answer to both, but Carver has work to do in order to reach the summer.

The Magpies sit 10 points above the relegation zone, which seems like a nice cushion, but that's how they stood when Alan Pardew left them at the beginning of 2015. They haven't made too much progress under Carver, and with nine games remaining, Newcastle need to start picking up points in order to avoid being dragged into the relegation scrap.

Anywho, let's get cracking on team news, shall we? Fair enough, but first why not take a few minutes and check out what the lads at Sports Mole HQ have had to say on this one? Ah sure go on and I'll see you in a few.

NEWCASTLE XI: Krul; R.Taylor, Janmaat, Williamson, Colback; Anita, Sissoko; Cabella, Gouffran, Ameobi; Perez.

ARSENAL XI: Ospina, Chambers, Gabriel, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Ramsey, Alexis, Cazorla, Welbeck, Giroud

NEWCASTLE SUBS: Elliot, Satka, Kemen, Gutierrez, Obertan, Armstrong, Riviere

ARSENAL SUBS: Szczesny, Gibbs, Mertesacker, Bellerin, Flamini, Rosicky, Walcott

As we briefly touched on earlier, United only have 13 outfield players available this afternoon, so quite a few unknowns have been drafted into the matchday squad as cover.

Three changes made by Carver from the 3-0 defeat at Everton, with the Jack Colback dropping back to defence to cover the suspended Fabricio Coloccini as Vurnon Anita comes into midfield. Remy Cabella replaces Gabriel Obertan, while Ayoze Perez leads the line in favour of Emmanuel Riviere. Of course, Jonas Gutierrez is back in action these days and he warms the bench alongside youngsters Lubomir Satka, Olivier Kemen and Adam Armstrong.

Meanwhile, Wenger also makes three changes from that 'glorious failure' in the Principality. Defenders Per Mertesacker and Hector Bellerin drop to the bench for Gabriel and Calum Chambers respectively, while Mesut Ozil drops out of the squad completely as he's replaced in the lineup by Aaron Ramsey.

Interestingly, no place in the lineup for Theo Walcott either as speculation continues to mount over a summer exit, with contract negotiations on hold it seems.

Who can the Gunners look to for a bit of inspiration this afternoon then? Well, with six in his last five against the Magpies - and nine in his last 11 Premier League starts - it seems that Olivier Giroud enjoys playing against Newcastle, eh? The Frenchman has been in red-hot form since returning from a broken ankle earlier this season and he is certainly one to look out for.

Futhermore, Walcott and Santi Cazorla also like playing United, too; with Cazorla netting twice in the 4-0 win earlier this season, while Walcott has six goals against them overall.

Overall, the omens aren't good for Carver and co. Arsenal have won their last six head-to-head meetings, scoring 18 along the way and conceding five. And the problem is that Newcastle are not exactly flush with options capable of changing their fortunes against the Gunners.

Ayoze Perez, with five goals, is the Magpies' leading goalscorer in the lineup today, with 11-goal Papiss Cisse unavailable. It doesn't bode well for the hosts, does it? Still, we can't write them off, but chew on this my friends: Arsenal have won their Premier League games immediately after being knocked out of the Champions League over the last two seasons. Ominous.

PREDICTION: Right we're 15 minutes from kickoff, which can only mean one thing: it's time to get our pre-match prediction wrong, and I'm going to punt for a 3-1 away win this afternoon. Arsenal should most definitely have too much for Newcastle and they'll be keen on bouncing back from the pain of midweek. That's how it's gon' be.

But here's to hoping we see a Premier League classic - and this fixture has certainly got previous for throwing up pulsating encounters. Four years ago, the Gunners became the only side in Premier League history to surrender a four-goal lead in a thrilling 4-4 draw here at St James's Park. Unforgettable clash, but here's a quick reminder.

.@19SCazorla captains @Arsenal today for #NUFCvAFC pic.twitter.com/CbRpAq3UVw

— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) March 21, 2015

DID YOU KNOW? Newcastle have picked up more red cards than any other team since the start of the 2013-14 campaign? Yep, the North-East side have earned no fewer than TEN red cards in what, 18 or 19 months? Bizarre, but also true. It doesn't inspire confidence when the Gunners have an abundance of tricky, technical players.

Both sets of players make their way out on to the field and we're minutes away now. Don't know if it's a sell-out crowd but there's A LOT of Newcastle fans packed inside St James's today.

KICKOFF: Aaaaaaaaaaaaand we're off at St James's Park, my friends. The visitors, playing left to right in the first half, get us underway. Let's go.

Great tackle by Gabriel and what an important one it was, as Ayoze Perez looked to bend a ball into the far corner but the Brazilian defender got a vital touch to take the sting out of the shot. Decent start by both sides.

It's a big day for Jack Colback, who is operating in the left-back role today due to Newcastle's depleted squad, but he's only up against Alexis Sanchez! Let's see how he does.

Newcastle haven't been bad at all in this first seven minutes. They've looked dangerous going forward, and Ayoze Perez has just been flagged offside for running on to Ameobi's run just a fraction early.

Arsenal are a joy to watch when they're in the mood, but they play one one-two too many as Ramsey plays in Cazorla but Williamson smashes the ball away. Good defending.

With right-back Ryan Taylor recently returning from long-term injury, and Jack Colback operating in an unfamilar left-back role, the Gunners' wingers Danny Welbeck and Alexis Sanchez really need to test the duo this afternoon but they haven't done so thus far.

CHANCE! We've seen our first chance, and it falls to Alexis at the back post, but his toe-poke at goal is blocked by Ryan Taylor before it can reach Tim Krul. Good defending.

There's just been one or two signs in the last few minutes that Arsenal are growing more dangerous with each passing minute, which is worrying for Newcastle because there's, hmm, 75 minutes left.

Newcastle fans honour their usual minute's applause on the 17th minute in memory of John Alder and Liam Sweeney, who perished on flight MH17 en route to watch Newcastle in a pre-season friendly. Nice touch.

Arsenal have a free kick in a decent position now as Yoan Gouffran hacks Alexis out of it, and they'll whip this into the box....

But it comes to nothing as Moussa Sissoko thrashes away and Newcastle avert the danger. They haven't been brilliant from set-piece chances so far, Arsenal.

CHANCE! Oh lord what a good chance for Arsenal to break the deadlock, and it's Ramsey, running on to Giroud's brilliant ball, but it's on his left foot and, instead of going for goal, looks to bring it around Tim Krul and ends up running out of play. Really poor from the Welshman, who would've surely taken that chance last season.

Despite Ramsey missing a good chance a moment earlier, Giroud spares his teammate's blushes by instinctively guiding Danny Welbeck's flick-on past Krul with his knee. It wasn't the best goal that the Frenchman has scored recently, but they all count!

CHANCE!!!! How is it not 2-0? Brilliant work from Alexis sets up a chance for Welbeck, who side-foots wide of the mark when it really should've found the back of the net. Disappointing finish.

We said Giroud liked playing against the Magpies, and the Frenchman has proven the scourge of Newcastle once again by picking up his second goal in the space of a few minutes! It's shocking defending from Mike Williamson, as Giroud holds off the defender before nodding home Santi Cazorla's corner without even jumping! Boos ring around St James's Park and the fans are not happy one bit.

Maybe a chance to reduce the deficit now after Perez wins a free kick in a good position after being fouled by Ramsey. It's going to be Ryan Taylor, who we know likes to hit them...

But Taylor's effort is deflected out for corner by Giroud as the Arsenal goalscorer does his bit at both ends. And the corner comes to nothing.

Arsenal could have any number of goals today. It's more a case of Newcastle being woeful than Arsenal being exceptional it has to be said. Danny Welbeck has given Ryan Taylor a torrid time in recent minutes.

Calum Chambers has to be careful. He's had his pocket picked by Sammy Ameobi a few times now as Newcastle have launched counters.

Newcastle having their best spell of the match now as they enjoy a few half-chances, but Arsenal, to their credit, defend it very well.

Arsenal have a decent chance to grab a killer third before the break after Cabella fouled Ramsey nearly the corner flag, and let's see what Santi Cazorla can produce...

It comes to nothing as Williamson gets it away. Not a good delivery again from the Spaniard.

Giroud helps himself to a brace of goals as Arsenal lead Newcastle 2-0 at the break. The Magpies have looked a little out of sorts in truth and boos rang around St James's the moment Mike Jones blew for half time.

Really good first half from an Arsenal perspective, but like the Kardashian sisters, the second won't be pretty for Newcastle unless John Carver gives his troops a kick up the you know what during the break.

RESTART! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand we are back underway, my friends. Newcastle, playing from left to right, kick us off as John Carver's side looked to overturn a two-goal deficit. Let's see.

Now then. That's interesting, isn't it? Moussa Sissoko brings Newcastle halfway to reversing the damage of their woeful first-half performance by cooly converting Taylor's cut-back cross to leave David Ospina stranded. Game on.

This is where Arsenal need an experienced head to just calm things down a little because Newcastle are being urged on by their fans and they look dangerous everytime they venture forward.

The tempo has come down a little bit, inevitably, as Arsenal dominate the last few minutes without much success. Still, you can't fault Newcastle's effort in this second half. They've looked really strong at times.

Arsenal struggling to keep the ball and everytime they lose the volume gets cranked up by the St James's Park faithful as they urge their team on Arsenal badly need a third goal to silence the partisan fans.

PENALTY APPEAL: Arsenal might be a little fortunate not to concede a penalty here as Chambers looked to have handled the ball inside the area, but Mike Jones waves away.

SAVE!!!!!!!!!!!! Brilliant from Ospina, who pulls off a superb instinctive save to deny Sissoko and Newcastle their second. Arsenal look as vulnerable as Newcastle did in the first half. There's at least a point for them here this afternoon.

SHOT! This isn't far away at all as Daryl Janmaat ventures forward from central defence and drills a low shot just wide of Ospina's post.

Williamson is slightly lucky to avoid a yellow card here as the Newcastle centre-back leads with the elbow and has Giroud on the deck holding his face. Hmm.

DOUBLE ARSENAL SUB: Santi Cazorla and Alexis are called ashore for Tomas Rosicky and Mathieu Flamini, who makes his 150th Premier League appearance.

We said the Gunners badly need a third goal but are they going to get it? Unlikely, if their last two subs are anything to go by. They're going defensive it seems - but can they hang on?

CHANCE! Brilliant running from Cabella as he drives through the heart of Arsenal's midfield and defence, but Gabriel gets a crucial block to take the sting off the Frenchman's shot. Good defending from the Brazilian.

Jonas Gutierrez might've done better here as the Newcastle sub flashes a cross across the face of goal but there was nobody there to convert it.

CHANCE! Brilliant from Danny Welbeck as he leaves Taylor for dead before running at goal from an angle, but the angle is too tight to squeeze past Krul as the Dutchman makes the save.

PENALTY APPEAL! Now then this looked very, very dodgy by Koscielny, who brought down Cabella inside the box but Mike Jones waved play on. I'll need to see a replay, but my first thoughts were that it was a spot-kick. Big let-off I think there.

Six minutes of normal time left then and Newcastle well in control as they hunt an equaliser. They've probably deserved one it has to be said, but let's see if they can snatch a point.

Koscielny to the rescue again as he deflects a teasing Cabella cross wide, while the corner comes to nothing. Squeaky bum time for the Gooners.

SAVE! Huge moment as Ospina saves with his feet to keep out Perez's effort, which takes not one but two deflections!

SUBS: Two subs to tell you about now as Welbeck makes way for Hector Bellerin, while 18-year-old Adam Armstrong replaces Sammy Ameobi. One minute of normal time left.

Arsenal just trying to take the sting out of it now, but Newcastle have it back and have two minutes to level up. Nail-biting stuff.

CHANCE! It should be game over. Simple as that. Bellerin beats Williamson to a ball deep inside Newcastle's half, and with Olivier Giroud lurking in the box, the Spaniard fails to pick him out for what would've been a simple tap-in.

That's all she wrote, my friends. Arsenal survive the Newcastle onslaught to leave St James's Park with a SIXTH consecutive Premier League win thanks for Olivier Giroud's first-half brace.

Well, that's all from us. Thanks for joining our live text commentary and have a nice weekend! Cheers.