West Ham held Arsenal midweek to extend their winless streak to three games after a defeat at home to Manchester United and a draw at Southampton.
The poor run has meant the Gunners are now outside the top four and looking up at their rivals with a title challenge now all but finished with Manchester City's relentless win streak now at 15 games.
Arsene Wenger will face fresh pressure from the fans at the Emirates, who are growing restless again about the direction of the club.
The futures of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil continue to hang over the team with a testing festive period on the horizon.
Wenger admits psychological block from United loss
It still plays on their mind. You have to get out of the system. I think the best way is to continue and focus on quality of game.
Wenger on what's gone wrong with Sanchez
When it doesn’t come off, maybe you try and force things too much.
Could it be that Sanchez just needs to relax a little in front of goal?
It’s three without a goal and as Sanchez goes, Arsenal goes, seemingly.
One point off top four, yes, but 19 points off City.
Fantasy football fans beware
Word of warning to fantasy football fans then, Wenger will be rotating his players accordingly:
I don’t know yet, I rotate a little bit at the moment.
We play four games in nine days so I will assess how everybody recovers.
Wenger's Christmas wish
My wish and my desire is that everybody stays.
If you come in and tell me ‘I will offer you this for this player’ I will tell you yes or no.
Wenger on Ozil extension progress
How close? I don’t know how close. We have never been approached by Man United anyway so I don’t see why that came up.
That is something that has been created. [He’ll stay] until the end of the season, the rest is open.
Wenger on the difference between Arsenal and City
We had no petrol and ideas.
They have petrol and ideas so that makes it more efficient.
Walcott also out
Theo Walcott also out for tomorrow with a groin problem and won’t be in the squad to face Newcastle.
The Gunners forward wasn’t initially mentioned in the team news.
Perhaps an after thought for the manager now?
Wenger on side's biggest problem
Wenger has touched on a lack of finishing with Arsenal wasting numerous chances over the last few weeks.
It’s in cycles. We need to continue on what we do well.
We need to be sharper in our finishing.
Wenger on whether City can be caught
There’s still a long way to go. They have quality to turn it in their favour.
They have plenty of resources and quality. It’s not easy. You have to respect their achievement.
Wenger on Sanchez's form
He’s focused in training. It doesn’t come off as much as it did before.
You go through periods like that. He always tries to make a difference.
cannot fault his commitment or attitude at all.
Wenger on Lacazette starting on bench vs West Ham
Wenger has discussed not starting the Gunners’ record signing against West Ham midweek.
He recently had a groin problem so I rested him. I rotated.
Wenger on December meeting with Wilshere
I will talk to him, I said the end of December and we are the beginning of December.
I wanted to see how much he can contribute and last physically. I consider him an Arsenal man.
Wenger on Wilshere starting
I don’t know yet, I rotate a little bit at the moment.
We play four games in basically nine days so I will assess a little bit how everybody recovers.
Wenger is here
Basically Mustafi is back in training but I don’t know if I will include him. A bit of a gamble. Ramsey will not be available, out for a bit longer... Maybe three weeks .
Arsenal stars donate a day's wages to charity as Gunners' keeper Petr Cech shows off his skills catching pennies
Arsenal players and manager Arsene Wenger are donating a day’s wages to charity this weekend.
The Gunners will be collecting money for The Arsenal Foundation in the build-up to Christmas, and will be continuing the annual initiative with a charity matchday
Gunners keeper Petr Cech has helped to publicise the initiative, being shown on video catching pennies before dropping them into donation buckets.
Cech’s Arsenal teammate Olivier Giroud then appears, joking: “Mate, giving doesn’t have to be so difficult” and drops the coins into a bucket.
Welcome
Welcome to Mirror Football’s live coverage of Arsene Wenger’s press conference to preview Arsenal’s game at home to Newcastle.
A testing run of form leading up to Christmas has seen the Gunners go three without a win in the Premier League and after the Magpies visit the Emirates, Wenger will be aware of a tricky run through to the new year.
There are homes games against Liverpool and Chelsea with away trips to Crystal Palace and West Brom, meaning three points are imperative to stay in contention for a top four place.
We’ll have all the reaction from the Arsenal chief, who is expected to talk to the media at 9am.