MATT RITCHIE has won his fitness battle to line up for Newcastle United in this afternoon's season opener against Arsenal.

Ritchie injured his hamstring in the pre-season friendly against Hibernian, but has been passed fit to line up against the Gunners.

He will start at left wing-back, with Paul Dummett getting the nod to start as part of the back three ahead of Federico Fernandez and Ciaran Clark.

Record signing Joelinton makes his competitive debut alongside Miguel Almiron in attack, but fellow summer signing, Allan Saint-Maximin, is only named on the substitutes' bench.

Arsenal boss Unai Emery has selected Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in attack, with Alexandre Lacazette and Nicolas Pepe only on the bench.

Deadline-day signing David Luiz is also named amongst the Arsenal substitutes.

Newcastle (3-5-2): Dubravka; Schar, Lascelles, Dummett; Manquillo, Shelvey, S Longstaff, Hayden, Ritchie; Almiron, Joelinton.

Subs: Darlow (gk), Clark, Fernandez, Krafth, Willems, Saint-Maximin, Muto.

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Leno; Maitland-Niles, Chambers, Sokratis, Monreal; Guendouzi, Xhaka; Willock, Mkhitaryan, Nelson; Aubameyang.

Subs: Martinez (gk), Luiz, Martinelli, Torreira, Ceballos, Pepe, Lacazette.