Arsenal striker Kai Havertz could make a quicker-than-expected return from a hamstring injury in Sunday’s Premier League clash with Newcastle United at the Emirates.
The Germany international is three months into his recovery from surgery after tearing a muscle in Dubai, and he was able to train alongside his teammates on Wednesday morning.
Arteta was typically tight-lipped on Friday, but he confirmed that a decision on Havertz’s involvement would be taken on Saturday, as will be the case for Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard.
However, Mikel Merino is watching on from the naughty step after his red card in the 2-2 draw with Liverpool, while Jorginho (chest), Gabriel Jesus (knee), Gabriel Magalhaes (hamstring) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) are still missing too.
If neither Merino nor Rice are available, Myles Lewis-Skelly would be an intriguing alternative in the left eight role, but Oleksandr Zinchenko has dabbled in that role for club and country before and ought to be given the nod.
Havertz will surely only make the bench at best given his lengthy absence, so Gabriel Martinelli will surely be the number one contender to start in the number nine position if Trossard is unable to make the cut.
Arteta would then have to deploy an emergency left-winger, of which Kieran Tierney and Raheem Sterling are candidates for, but Ethan Nwaneri could instead be trialled in that position.
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Zinchenko; Saka, Martinelli, Nwaneri
> Click here to see how Newcastle could line up for this game
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