Newcastle United briefing: Rafa Benitez faces media amid Arsenal speculation, watch Sir Bobby Robson film trailer

Benitez will take his in-form Newcastle United side to Goodison Park on Monday night looking for a fifth successive Premier League win.

The club is 10th in the table, and safe from the threat of relegation, ahead of the televised fixture.

Benitez is among the favourites to succeed Arsene Wenger at Arsenal.

Wenger – whose side was beaten 2-1 at St James's Park last weekend – announced today that he would step down from his post at the end of the season.

Here's your daily briefing:

In the frame?

Former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira, in charge of New York City, is 3/1 favourite to replace Wenger.

Benitez – who is under contract for another year at United – is 10/1 for the job.

Thomas Tuchel, Brendan Rodgers, Massimiliano Allegri, Carlo Ancelotti and Joachim Loew are also fancied for the post.

Benitez will be asked about speculation linking him with the job at his press conference this afternoon.

Amazing

Newcastle have a new fan – Chelsea's David Luiz.

Luiz is a close friend of winger Kenedy, who is on loan at St James's Park until the end of the season.

Kenedy is a partner in a London restaurant along with Chelsea team-mates and Brazilian countrymen Luiz and Willian.

And Luiz is keeping a close eye on the 22-year-old, who has impressed since joining Newcastle in January.

"I try to help him," Luiz told the Daily Mail. "He was always with Diego Costa, but, since he left, I have taken on that role of looking out for him.

"You see his tattoos and the ripped jeans and you think he's a crazy boy, but he's shy. His past was not easy, he's from the street. But he's a great boy with a big heart.

"I try to watch all of Newcastle’s games and he calls me to ask about his performance.

"But he should not worry, he's been amazing. I'm cheering all the goals."

Kenedy, meanwhile, has spoken about his future.

Gruelling

It's almost two years since long-serving defender Steven Taylor played his last game for United.

Now at Peterborough United, Taylor has reflected on life after Newcastle after proving his fitness over a gruelling League One campaign.

Special

Matt Ritchie feels he's "part of something" at United.

The winger, signed from Bournemouth in the summer of 2016, has reflected on his career so far at St James's Park after scoring the club's winner against Arsenal last weekend.

"When I left Bournemouth, I left with a heavy heart because it was a fantastic spell in my career and I absolutely loved it down there," said Ritchie.

“But this was an opportunity to come to a massive football club with great potential, and I wanted to be a part of that.”

Meanwhile, Newcastle's Under-23s take on Aston Villa at St James's Park tonight in a Premier League 2 fixture (7pm kick-off).

And finally...

Click on the link above to watch the official trailer for "Bobby Robson: More Than A Manager".

The film, which charts the life and career of the legendary manager, will be released in selected cinemas on May 31.