Arsenal: Kai Havertz and Declan Rice provide double injury boost but Jurrien Timber absent ahead of Newcastle Havertz closing in on first appearance in more than three months

Key duo: Declan Rice and Kai Havertz took part in Arsenal training on Wednesday

Your matchday briefing on Arsenal, featuring team news and expert analysis from Simon Collings

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Kai Havertz has returned to Arsenal training ahead of the penultimate match of the season.

The German has been out since the start of February after suffering a hamstring injury, and he was initially expected to miss the rest of the campaign having undergone surgery.

However, Mikel Arteta confirmed earlier this month that Havertz was in contention to return to the squad this season and the forward took part in first-team training at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

That could leave Havertz as an option to feature against Newcastle on Sunday, when victory would effectively wrap up second place in the Premier League for Arsenal.

His return would be a timely one for Arteta, with Mikel Merino, who has filled in as a striker in Havertz’s absence, suspended after his red card against Liverpool.

Declan Rice missed that trip to Anfield and Arteta suggested after the match that it “did not look good” for the midfielder, who is believed to have been dealing with a hip injury.

Rice, though, was also present in training ahead of the Newcastle clash, as was Leandro Trossard, who came off in the second-half against Liverpool with what appeared to be a hamstring issue.

There was less positive news for the Gunners as Jurrien Timber missed training to leave him as a doubt to face the Magpies.

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The Dutchman was on the bench at Anfield last weekend, but Arteta revealed after the match that he was not an option to come on.

“With Jurrien we brought him to see if he was better but it was clear that he was not fit to play,” Arteta said.