Boost For Arsenal – Newcastle Face Injury Crisis Ahead Of Gunners Clash

Arsenal head to St James’ Park on Saturday afternoon and it looks as though we’re going to be facing a severally depleted Newcastle United team.

John Carver spoke to the media this afternoon and gave NUFC.co.uk a team news update with the Magpies boss claiming to have just 13 fit senior outfield player to choose from.

Captain Fabricio Coloccini starts a suspension following his sending off against Everton last week so he joins striker Papiss Cisse on the sidelines as he continues to serve his lengthy ban for spiting at Jonny Evans.

Newcastle will also be without defender Steven Taylor for the rest of the season due to a calf injury while Cheick Tiote and Paul Dummett are both still out with a knee injuries.

Mehdi Abeid is still at least a week away from recovering from a thigh injury, while Rolando Aaron’s continues to work his way back to full fitness from his own thigh problem.

Defender Massadio Haïdara won’t be back until after the international break due to a knee injury and although Siem de Jong is back outside doing light training, he’s not expected to be back in contention some some time yet after suffering a collapsed lung.

Here is what Carver told the clubs website:

“I haven’t really got a selection problem as I’ve only got 13 fit senior players, plus two goalkeepers, so that won’t be too difficult,”

“There’s no sign of anybody coming back in the near future, other than Mehdi Abeid – who could be a week or so away – and Rolando Aarons, who we are still working on. Everyone else is more or less long-term.

“Siem de Jong went outside for the first time today and did a little workout, which was nice to see.”

It means Newcastle have two players out through suspension and another seven missing due to injury, leaving Carver with little option but to call upon a few of the youngsters this weekend, although he’s reluctant to throw them in against Arsenal this weekend.

“I would love to stick a couple of the young lads in but I don’t think it’s the right environment, certainly against an in-form side like Arsenal,” he continued.

“I watched them (Arsenal) on Tuesday night and they were pretty impressive, so it’s not the right time for the young lads to go into a situation like this.”

It’s certainly a lengthy absentee list and it appears to be a good time to play the Geordies, but Arsenal fans are probably the last people who want to hear complaints about injuries as we’ve had to deal with our fair share over the years.

Our squad is in reasonable shape right now but we could still be without six first team squad players against Newcastle with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mikel Arteta, Abou Diaby, Mathieu Debuchy and Jack Wilshere certain to miss out, while Tomas Rosicky is still a slight doubt due to illness.

You can see Arsenal’s full team news update here