The centre half missed the 2-2 draw at Bournemouth last month through injury but now, having returned to full fitness, manager Rafa Benítez has opted to bring Lascelles back into the heart of his defence in place of Federico Fernández as United look to make it three league games unbeaten.

That is Benítez’s only change to the team who snatched a point against the Cherries, with Martin Dúbravka continuing in goal behind a backline featuring Lascelles, Florian Lejeune and Paul Dummett, with DeAndre Yedlin and Matt Ritchie on the flanks.

Isaac Hayden starts in the middle of the park against his former club, with Mo Diamé alongside him at the Emirates Stadium.

And Ayoze Pérez, Salomón Rondón and Miguel Almirón will look to provide the firepower in attack against the in-form Gunners, who have won their last nine games on home turf.

Karl Darlow is named on the bench, along with Javier Manquillo, Fernández, Ki Sung-yueng and Jonjo Shelvey.

Kenedy and Yoshinori Muto are also among Newcastle’s substitutes in the capital.

Newcastle United: Martin Dúbravka; DeAndre Yedlin, Jamaal Lascelles, Florian Lejeune, Paul Dummett, Matt Ritchie; Isaac Hayden, Mo Diamé; Ayoze Pérez, Salomón Rondón, Miguel Almirón.

Substitutes: Karl Darlow, Javier Manquillo, Federico Fernández, Ki Sung-yueng, Jonjo Shelvey, Kenedy, Yoshinori Muto.