Arsenal face a nervous wait over the fitness of centre-backs Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker ahead of their match against Newcastle at St. James’ Park this coming Saturday lunchtime.
Both missed Monday night’s 0-0 home draw with Liverpool. Koscielny was suffering from a back injury after pulling up in training, whilst Mertesacker was sent home with a bug and was also told to stay away from the training ground so that he doesn’t pass the bug to anybody else in the squad.
Koscielny is almost a certainty to miss the trip to Newcastle due to his back injury, whilst Mertesacker remains a doubt, although Arsenal’s medical staff are confident he’ll be fit in time.
Gabriel and Calum Chambers were the replacement partnership against Liverpool, in what proved to be a difficult night defensively, emphasising the importance of Arsenal’s first-choice centre-back pairing.
Gabriel impressed against Liverpool, and would be the likely candidate to partner Mertesacker. Chambers is likely to be on the bench, after he endured a tough night against the Reds.
