Gunners increasingly short of options in forward
Arsenal are severely lacking in firepower for their clash with Newcastle after Ethan Nwaneri became the latest player to be struck down by injury.
Nwaneri picked up a muscular injury in Arsenal’s draw with Brighton on Saturday and is now set for a few weeks on the sidelines.
The Gunners are already short on forward options given Bukayo Saka is out with a hamstring injury and Raheem Sterling is on the sidelines due to a knee problem.
Mikel Arteta said he was “gutted” for Nwaneri, who has started the last two games for Arsenal and impressed despite being just 17 years old.
Arsenal will hope their fitness woes will be eased by Kai Havertz returning to the squad for Tuesday’s game with Newcastle.
The German has missed the last two games due to illness but is hoping to be involved for the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final with Newcastle at Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal will welcome back Jurrien Timber after the right-back served his one-match suspension against Brighton for picking up five yellow cards in the Premier League this season.
Arteta faces a selection headache at left-back, with Myles Lewis-Skelly a contender to start after some good performances last month.
In midfield, Martin Odegaard will hope to be fit enough to start after he was hit by illness last week.
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The Norwegian missed training in the build-up to Saturday’s draw with Brighton and was only able to come off the bench in the second-half.
Predicted Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Martinelli, Jesus, Trossard
Doubts: Havertz (illness)
Injured: Nwaneri (muscular), Saka (hamstring), Sterling (knee), Tomiyasu (knee), White (knee)
Time and date: 8pm GMT on Tuesday January 7 2025
Venue: Emirates Stadium
TV channel and live stream: Sky Sports
Arsenal squad from: Neto, Raya, Setford; Calafiori, Gabriel, Heaven,
