Following on from Sunday’s results in the Premier League, we are just three points away from being in next season’s Champions League, barring a phenomenal change in goal difference with Aston Villa.
Next up is Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday, and having already won three games against the Gunners this season, is a fourth entirely out of the question?
Well, if Arsenal’s injury and suspension woes persist heading into the weekend, then it’s a very real possibility…
Former Mag ruled out
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With very little left to play for this season besides merit money and that runners-up tag, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal would likely have expected an easy, stress-free end to their campaign.
But Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool has put the Gunners in a difficult position ahead of their game against us.
Similar to what we saw for an hour against Chelsea, the opposition won’t have a designated striker on the pitch, as stand-in forward and former Mag Mikel Merino was sent off after receiving two yellow cards at Anfield shortly after heading in their equaliser.
Merino has nine goals and five assists for Arsenal this term and has been filling in following season-ending injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.
Two more Arsenal doubts
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Arteta could’ve done without any more attacking absentees, but it’s likely he’ll be without **Leandro Trossard** after the Belgian looked to pick up a hamstring injury in the closing stages at Anfield.
If he’s out, we could see Gabriel Martinelli deputise next Sunday, though there’s a possibility that Raheem Sterling fills in.
**Declan Rice** was also a notable absentee for Arsenal, with Arteta claiming the midfielder picked up an injury during their loss to PSG midweek that kept him out of their squad over the weekend.
How might Newcastle line up?
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Whilst Arsenal’s injuries are more integral to their squad and starting XI, we face similar injury issues at this moment in time.
The trio of Joelinton, Joe Willock and Kieran Trippier all face the very real possibility of missing out on the final two fixtures having picked up knocks in the last couple of games.
Sven Botman is likely to retain his place in the first team, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see reliable Swede Emil Krafth given more minutes to allow for more rotation in the defence.
The excitement offered by having all four ‘attackers’ in Alexander Isak, Jacob Murphy, Harvey Barnes and Anthony Gordon would be very welcome to see at the Emirates next weekend, with Howe surely wanting to get after Arsenal just like we did in the Carabao Cup semi-finals.