Kai Havertz looking on before an Arsenal match at the Emirates Stadum wearing a New York Yankees cap
Kai Havertz looking on before an Arsenal match at the Emirates Stadum wearing a New York Yankees cap
Newcastle United's rivals Arsenal have been handed a huge injury boost ahead of the massive clash between the two sides this weekend after Kai Havertz was spotted back in team training.
The German international has missed the last few months because of a hamstring issue picked up during the club's warm-weather training camp in Dubai which required surgery to fix. It left Arsenal without a recognised striker after Gabriel Jesus was ruled out of the season with a knee injury.
But the Gunners held an open session at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday and Havertz was among those included.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta had hinted he could feature again this season and making a cameo appearance against Newcastle at the weekend has now emerged as a real possibility. Arsenal go into the game two points ahead of the Magpies in second place in the Premier League table.
“He's got a bit more complicated than expected," Arteta admitted earlier this month. "Thankfully, he's fine, he's feeling good, he's recovering well, but it was a bit more than what we wanted.
“I think so [that he will be back before the end of the season] , if everything goes okay in the next week or so.”
The Gunners are still not assured of Champions League qualification despite being title contenders for a long part of the season. The race for a top five spot looks set to go down to the wire with Newcastle hoping to fend off Man City, Nottingham Forest, Chelsea and Aston Villa.
Arsenal duo Leandro Trossard and Declan Rice, meanwhile, will be assessed ahead of the weekend with a decision to be made. The latter missed the Liverpool clash due to a muscular issue while Trossard pulled up clutching his hamstring during that 2-2 draw at Anfield.
In total Arsenal have eight players who are at risk of missing the game at the Emirates on Sunday.
Newcastle, meanwhile, have their own injury concerns. Kieran Trippier and Joe Willock are fighting to be fit before the end of the season while Sven Botman suffered another knee scare in the vital 2-0 win over Chelsea on Sunday.