Credit: Getty Images
Newcastle will be without two key players for Saturday’s crucial clash at the Emirates Stadium, with both Anthony Gordon and Tino Livramento set to miss the trip to north London.
Gordon, who has been heavily linked with a move away from St James’ Park this season, is a significant doubt after missing training once again with a hip injury. The winger sat out Newcastle’s weekend defeat to Bournemouth and scans have confirmed the extent of the problem.
FREE DAILY NEWSLETTER
The daily Arsenal FC newsletter
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
According to The Mail, Gordon has been unable to train since sustaining the hip issue and is unlikely to feature against Arsenal on Saturday. While there remains hope the England international will return before the season ends, his absence represents a major blow for Eddie Howe’s side.
The situation is even more concerning for full-back Livramento, who was forced off during the Bournemouth match with a thigh complaint. Newcastle fear the defender will be sidelined for at least the next three fixtures, including the Arsenal game, as well as upcoming matches against Brighton and Nottingham Forest.
Livramento, who has attracted interest from Arsenal in recent transfer windows, now faces a race against time to prove his fitness ahead of England’s World Cup squad announcement next month. Both he and Gordon harbor hopes of making Thomas Tuchel’s final selection.
The timing of these injuries could hardly be worse for Newcastle, who face an Arsenal side desperate for points in the title race. The Gunners will start Saturday’s match in second place if Manchester City beat Burnley on Wednesday evening, but any dropped points will further damage their championship aspirations.
Arsenal’s recent record against Newcastle has been mixed, with two narrow victories following three consecutive defeats to Howe’s team. The absence of both Gordon and Livramento should provide some encouragement for Mikel Arteta’s side as they look to maintain pressure on City at the top of the table.
Both Newcastle players have been subject to transfer speculation this season, with Gordon linked to several Premier League clubs and German giants Bayern Munich reportedly showing interest. Livramento’s potential move to the Emirates Stadium has been a recurring theme in recent windows.
The injuries add to Newcastle’s selection headaches as they attempt to secure European qualification for next season. Currently sitting in mid-table, Howe will need to find alternative solutions for two positions that have been crucial to his team’s setup this campaign.