Mikel Arteta says Eddie Howe has "transformed" Newcastle as he prepares to take his unbeaten Arsenal team to face the high-flying Magpies at St James' Park on Saturday.
Arsenal, last year's Premier League runners-up, are second in the table behind Tottenham after seven wins and three draws in 10 games.
But they suffered a chastening 3-1 midweek defeat against West Ham in the League Cup, on the same evening that Newcastle beat Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford. "We know the standards and we know that the way we played, especially in the second half the other day was not good enough," said Arteta, who made multiple changes at the London Stadium on Wednesday.
The Spaniard said St James' Park was one of the "toughest places" to win. "We've done it and there is nothing new to it, we know what we're expecting," he said. "It is very clear what they do, what their strengths are, and where the opportunities are for us.