Nine players could miss Newcastle vs Arsenal after injury updates as big return confirmed

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta and Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe are both dealing with injury concerns ahead of their Premier League meeting this weekend.

The two sides have endured mixed starts to the new campaign with both handed some brutal blows in the first few weeks. The Gunners have already seen Bukayo Saka miss some action courtesy of a hamstring injury, but he has since returned and is expected to feature at St James' Park.

"Nothing to report,"Arteta admitted after Saka played 63 minutes on Wednesday evening against Port Vale. "I think he played the game that we anticipated. He did well, he feels good and he will be training the next few days."

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Martin Odegaard has also missed a few games with a shoulder injury and did not feature against Manchester City or in the week, but he is in contention to return this Sunday.

"Martin will be training with us the next two days so hopefully he'll be available for the game," Arteta said. He was however, unable to provide a definitive update on Noni Madueke but the expectation is he will be absent for an extended period because of a knee injury.

Kai Havertz is also missing after he underwent surgery on an injury suffered against Manchester United on the opening day. Gabriel Jesus is also still recovering from the serious knee problem he suffered back in January.

Arteta revealed earlier this week that summer signing Piero Hincapie picked up a groin issue and with no further update given on Friday, it suggests he will miss Sunday's trip to Newcastle.

As for their opponents, Howe has received a big boost with Anthony Gordon no longer suspended from the red card he picked up against Liverpool in gameweek 2.

"It is a big boost for us to have him back fully," Howe said in a press conference. "He can really focus on the few games we have ahead of the next international break. I thought he was excellent against Bradford. He is a player that rises to the occasion, and we are going to need everyone to do that on Sunday."

While Gordon is back, two of the Magpies' newest attacking signings in Yoane Wissa and Jacob Ramsey are still unavailable with knee and ankle injuries, respectively. Experienced centre-back Fabian Schar also looks set to miss out with a head injury.

Jacob Murphy may also not be selected with the 30-year-old still dealing with an injury that has been present since pre-season.

"Jacob is doing OK - it is an [Achilles] issue we are managing," Howe said on Friday morning. "He is fit and available, but some days he has been sore, so we are just trying to manage his load."