Arsenal vs. Newcastle United: Complete Preview, Live Stream, Start Time and More

Arsenal will be looking to keep its Premier League hot streak alive when the Gunners welcome Newcastle United to Ashburton Grove on Monday. Since both teams are battling for a European spot, it's sure to be an intense match.

The Gunners will enter the clash on a four-match winning streak. They have won those games by a combined score of 16-5. It's a run that has put Arsenal back within striking distance of the top three with 11 games left in the campaign.

After finishing just seven points above the relegation zone last season, it's been a far more successful year for Newcastle. In fact, a win on Monday will allow the Magpies to surpass their point total from 2010-11, which would be a terrific accomplishment.

Where: Emirates Stadium in London, England

When: Monday, March 12 at 4 p.m. ET

Watch: ESPN2 and ESPN3.com

Betting Odds: Arsenal -213, Newcastle United +580, Draw +298

Player to Watch for Arsenal: Wojciech Szczesny

Szczesny doesn't get enough credit for his play between the pipes for Arsenal. There were fixtures earlier in the season when he was getting left out to dry and managed to steal a couple points. It didn't seem like much back then, but they are turning out to be crucial points.

He's already proven himself to be one of the Premiership's top goalkeepers, and at just 21 years old, there is plenty of time to improve. Winning games, especially down the stretch when games tend to tighten up, is a lot easier when you have a reliable keeper.

Monday's match will definitely be one where scoring chances are tough to come by, so Szczesny will need to be at his absolute best when called upon.

Player to Watch for Newcastle United: Demba Ba

There have been plenty of times throughout the season when Ba was the only Magpie creating any opportunities in the attacking third, so the team is lucky he's been in elite form. He's on pace for a career-best campaign with 16 goals in 23 league appearances.

The difference for him this season has been learning to use his size to his advantage. He's always possessed a scoring touch, but combining it with an ability to create space for himself by shielding defenders has turned him into an even bigger threat.

Between the Gunners' improved defensive play and the aforementioned Szczesny, Ba has his work cut out for himself heading into the clash. That said, it hasn't been easy for anyone to slow him down.

Key Matchup: Arsene Wenger vs. Alan Pardew

Wenger faces a tough task. His team will be playing its third match in nine days, and several players are fighting through nagging injuries. He would love to give everybody some rest, of course, but it's not an option with the table so tightly grouped. So he'll have to be selective.

For Pardew, the question is how he wants his team to approach the match. He needs to decide if they should be in attack mode from the opening whistle in hopes of gaining all three points, but opening themselves up to a counterattack, or play it safe.

So it's clear both managers will spend a lot of time over the weekend deciding the best course of action ahead of an important match for both sides.

What They're Saying

Robin van Persie had high praise for teammate Tomas Rosicky ahead of the Gunners' Champions League battle with AC Milan (via team website):

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"Tomas is a hugely important member of this team – he has been playing so well this season and you can see that he’s going from strength to strength."

Rosicky’s ability on the ball and eye for a pass are matched by few at the top level - and Van Persie believes that his astuteness just cannot be taught.

"I just love playing with him because he’s so quick in his mind, so clever in the way he sees passes and so adept at completing them," he said.

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Newcastle keeper Tim Krul still thinks his team has a good chance to claim a spot in European play next season, according to ESPN:

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"I think if teams like Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal watched the Sunderland game and saw the atmosphere, the fans and the commitment we showed, they will have to be afraid of us this season," said the Dutchman.

"We are just behind Chelsea and yes, of course this [the sacking of Andre Villas-Boas] will increase the pressure on them. You never want your manager to be sacked, but we're looking at ourselves."

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Prediction

Arsenal 2, Newcastle United 1