Your matchday briefing on Arsenal, featuring team news and expert analysis from Simon Collings
I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.
Arsenal will make a late decision on the availability of all of Declan Rice, Gabriel Martinelli, Jurrien Timber and Leandro Trossard for the match against Newcastle, while Kai Havertz may return.
The Gunners have been dealing with a number of injury issues ahead of their penultimate Premier League fixture of the season on Sunday and last at the Emirates Stadium in 2024/25.
England midfielder Rice missed Sunday’s eventful 2-2 draw with champions Liverpool at Anfield with what was initially thought to be a hip issue, later reported as a hamstring problem, though was back at training earlier this week.
However, while forward Trossard was also taking part at an open session held at the Emirates on Wednesday after being substituted on Merseyside with his own hamstring injury, right-back Timber was absent and Gabriel Martinelli limped off early in another scare.
Havertz has also joined in with parts of training this week and could be in line to play for the first time since the second leg of Arsenal’s Carabao Cup semi-final defeat by Newcastle on February 5, as the Gunners prepare to face Eddie Howe’s side for the fourth time this season.
The German forward was initially feared lost for the rest of the campaign after tearing his hamstring during a warm-weather winter training camp in Dubai, but has recovered quicker than expected and is hoping to feature in the final two matches, with Arsenal travelling to relegated Southampton on the final day.
“We are going to decide that tomorrow,” Arteta said at Friday’s pre-match press conference when asked if Havertz could play against Newcastle. “He has done certain parts of the sessions in the past two days. He looks in great shape.”
Transfer news LIVE! Gyokeres wants Arsenal; Wirtz to Liverpool twist
How Arsenal can qualify for Champions League tonight
My 'inner turmoil': Paul Merson opens up in powerful new interview
How Give Your Best aims to solve clothing poverty in the UK
Quizzed on Rice, Martinelli, Timber and Trossard, he added: “They have done parts of the sessions, not the complete sessions. We are going to have to see tomorrow.”
Arsenal will definitely be without Mikel Merino against Newcastle as the versatile Spaniard serves an automatic one-match ban after being sent off for receiving two yellow cards following his equaliser at Anfield last weekend.
Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Jesus and Takehiro Tomiyasu all remain long-term injury absentees, meanwhile.
MORE ABOUT
Kai Havertz
Arsenal injury news
Declan Rice
Have your say...
VIEW COMMENTS