Arsenal Faces Injury Concerns Ahead of Newcastle Clash
Arsenal will be without a key player for their upcoming match against Newcastle United at St. James’ Park this Saturday. Manager Mikel Arteta confirmed that both Riccardo Calafiori and Martin Ødegaard will miss the game due to injuries. This news comes just as the team prepares to face a Newcastle side eager to secure their first league victory since mid-September.
Recent Performances
The Gunners are riding high after a solid 3-0 victory over Preston North End in the Carabao Cup, which advanced them to the quarter-finals where they will face Crystal Palace. However, Arteta is not allowing his team to dwell on that success, knowing they have a challenging match ahead. Newcastle, managed by Eddie Howe, last secured a win with a 2-1 result against Wolves at Molineux, and they will be desperate to turn their fortunes around against Arsenal.
While Arsenal has only lost once this season—a 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth two weeks ago—they have since bounced back strongly, defeating Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League and drawing against a strong Liverpool side, even while fielding a weakened team. The Gunners will need to adjust their lineup as they prepare for this away fixture.
Injury Updates
Arteta’s pre-match press conference revealed further injury concerns. Ødegaard is still recovering from ankle ligament damage sustained in September, and Calafiori is also sidelined due to a knock he picked up against Shakhtar. In addition, Ben White’s participation is uncertain; he has not trained recently, and Arteta remains cautious about his availability.
“Riccardo and Martin are definitely out,” Arteta stated. “With Ben, we are still assessing his condition. He couldn’t train, but we’ll see how he progresses. He has been putting in the effort, so it would be surprising if he isn’t ready once he resumes training.”
Further Injury Complications
Takehiro Tomiyasu, who briefly returned to action for a six-minute stint against Southampton, is again facing a setback due to a suspected recurrence of a knee issue. Arteta confirmed that Tomiyasu will miss the match against Newcastle, alongside Ødegaard and Calafiori, and added that they do not expect him back before the next international break. This ongoing injury problem has raised speculation about Tomiyasu’s future at the club.
Teammate Ben White praised Tomiyasu’s abilities, stating, “Tomi is amazing. He’s the best right-back I’ve ever played with. He’s always focused and plays the simple things at a world-class level. From the beginning, he’s understood English perfectly and communicates well.”
Conclusion
As Arsenal prepares for a pivotal match against Newcastle, they face significant challenges with several key players unavailable. The team’s depth will be tested as they aim to maintain their strong start to the season amidst these injury setbacks. Fans will be hoping for a solid performance from the Gunners as they look to extend their lead in the Premier League.