Eddie Howe has issued a Newcastle fitness update ahead of his side’s Premier League trip to Arsenal on Saturday evening
Eddie Howe has confirmed Anthony Gordon and Tino Livramento will both miss Newcastle’s trip to Arsenal.
The Magpies, who have won just two of their past nine games in all competitions, head to the Emirates Stadium this weekend looking to launch a late push for European qualification.
However, their task now looks more difficult as Gordon and Livramento, two players Arsenal are tracking ahead of the summer transfer window, won’t be in the squad due to injury.
Howe said on Friday morning: “Anthony hasn’t trained this week. It’s not a serious injury. Hopefully he’ll make the next one.
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“It’s not a bad injury. We’ll have to wait and see if he plays again this season as he’ll have another scan this weekend.”
Gordon is suffering with a hip problem and also missed Newcastle’s defeat to Bournemouth last Saturday.
His absence is good news for Arsenal as he flourished at the Emirates Stadium in the Carabao Cup semi-finals last term, netting for Howe’s side on the road to glory at Wembley.
Livramento was forced off last week against the Cherries with a muscle problem and that has been the theme of an injury-ravaged campaign for the England international defender.
Newcastle head into the weekend in 14th place in the Premier League table and they also lost 2-1 at home to the Gunners in the reverse fixture earlier in the season.
Arsenal may still have injury problems of their own though as Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori are doubts for the contest.
Mikel Arteta is set to provide a fitness update on his squad later this afternoon when he addresses the media at Arsenal’s training ground.
The Gunners can move back to the top of the Premier League this weekend, after dropping to second in midweek, with victory as Manchester City are in FA Cup semi-final action against Southampton.
With just five matches left to play, Arsenal know they have to win the rest of their games to stand a chance of ending their 22-year wait for Premier League glory.
In any case, the title race could well go down to the wire because City have now closed the gap at the summit and have hit top form at the business end of the season.
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