Newcastle United have an eye on an important game in January.
Fans will be pleased with the fine form as of late. Newcastle’s win at Ipswich made it three victories on the bounce with the momentum from the Magpies’ wins against Leicester and Brentford taken into that game.
Eddie Howe will be delighted with how his side has performed, with Alexander Isak back to his best after scoring a hat-trick against Ipswich. At the same time, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali continue to develop their partnership in midfield.
Saturday’s win took Newcastle up to eighth in the Premier League just two points off fifth place.
Howe also has a Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal to look forward to, but Newcastle will be without Bruno Guimaraes and Fabian Schar after picking up two bookings throughout the competition.
However, it looks like Arsenal could also be without one of their star players.
Bukayo Saka of Arsenal reacts after picking up an injury, before receiving medical treatment and leaving the field, during the Premier League matc...
Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Arsenal star Bukayo Saka could miss Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Newcastle
Bukayo Saka was taken off in Arsenal’s win against Crystal Palace after just 24 minutes on Saturday.
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It has since been reported that the young winger suffered a hamstring problem, with early signs suggesting it could be bad for the winger who has had a hand in 22 goals this season – including nine goals across the Premier League and Champions League.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta spoke to Sky Sports on Saka’s injury on Saturday, he said: “He felt something in his hamstring, he couldn’t continue.
“He will have to be assessed so really worried about that one.”
According to The Times, it is likely that the 23-year-old will miss several weeks due to the problem.
The news makes Saka’s chances of appearing in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Newcastle very slim.
Bukayo Saka’s absence is important given his record against Newcastle
Saka seems to enjoy playing Newcastle, with the England international winning five of his nine games against the Magpies.
He likes to pop up with a goal as well, scoring three in those nine games while bagging an assist back in 2020 when Newcastle were managed by Steve Bruce.
The 23-year-old also scored in Newcastle’s trip to the Emirates in February, a 4-1 defeat.
Newcastle can take confidence from their last meeting against the Gunners, however. The Magpies beat Arsenal in November thanks to a stunning header from Isak.