Sven Botman of Newcastle United (4)
Newcastle United centre-back Sven Botman was named on the team sheet to face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
Despite not training in the early part of the week, with Newcastle sweating on his selection, Botman started the game after overcoming knee issues. The former Lille star took his place in an unchanged defensive rearguard after last weekend's win over Chelsea at St James' Park.
But there was a major shock as Alexander Isak sat the game out with Callum Wilson starting in attack. Wilson is yet to score this season after overcoming injury worries in the first half of the season.
Botman had gone off after 55 minutes in the 2-0 win over the Blues last Sunday. But he formed a three-man defensive rearguard alongside Fabian Schar and Dan Burn against the Gunners with Tino Livramento and Jacob Murphy the wing-backs.
Howe had said in his Press conference on Friday: "It's not the case (that it is serious). The ACL was the ACL, the first injury came from a knock as well. This is a similar thing, he has just been unlucky on the last two occasions.
"I think there is that feeling that he is frustrated. I have been there, the majority of the second half of my career. You are getting disappointments, things are coming at you, and there is nothing you can do about them."
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However, Botman shook any concerns to fly south with his team-mates and was declared fine to play in the crucial Premier League encounter.
UNITED: Pope, Schar, Botman, Burn; Murphy, Livramento, Tonali, Bruno; Barnes, Gordon, Wilson.
Subs: Dubravka, Ruddy, Krafth, Lascelles, Longstaff, Miley, Osula, Neave, Willock