Arsenal vs Newcastle Premier League preview: How to watch, lineups, big calls & prediction

Arsenal Team News vs Newcastle – Selections Aplenty for Arteta

Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Thursday morning the manager offered a huge update on Granit Xhaka’s knee injury, revealing that the midfielder is ahead of schedule and may possibly return before the turn of the year.

"“Hopefully he will be back a little bit sooner than expected”, the Spaniard said. “He’s in a good place, we’ll have to see. “I hope so [that we will see him this year].”"

Graninevitable. He was always going to be back early, wasn’t he? The man is made of literal granite.

Following the previous weekend’s excursions there might have been a few more injuries and niggles to contend with, but Arteta revealed that there were no fresh concerns for Saturday as the squad is, as it’s been for most of the season, fit and firing once more.

The only other injury absence is Sead Kolasinac, who is walking in a cast and looks like being out for some time, which could be a setback on plans to move him on in the January window. Unless his contract is cancelled, which it probably will be.

As for the visitors, Fabian Schar had to be taken off with a hamstring problem in the draw against Brentford which will likely see Emil Krafth drafted into the defence, with the only other certain absentee being Paul Dummett.

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