Newcastle United have a number of injury absences and doubts ahead of their match against Arsenal on Saturday.
Jamaal Lascelles, Sven Botman, Callum Wilson, and Kieran Trippier are all out of the game, and Jacob Murphy is a serious doubt with a hamstring problem
Though the hamstring issue was described by Eddie Howe as “slight”, and he went on to say “we don’t think it’s anything serious”, the player did miss Wednesday’s game against Chelsea and may just fall short against Arsenal as well.
Perhaps most significantly, Newcastle star duo Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak have been dealing with knocks this week.
Howe told his pre-match press conference that both of them are feeling alright at the moment, but they’ll need further assessments during their final training session ahead of Saturday’s game.
“They both feel okay, we will assess how they feel today, 48 hours after the game,” Howe said.
“They have both had niggling injuries so we’ll make a decision today. We need to make sure whoever enters the pitch against Arsenal is in the best physical condition.”
Isak has featured in all of Newcastle’s games since the October international break, but he did have to come off early after scoring against Chelsea in midweek.
Gordon missed last weekend’s Premier League match through injury, but he was also involved against Chelsea on Wednesday before being withdrawn in a second-half substitution.
It looks like both will be available for the Arsenal match, but they’re evidently not quite at 100% right now.
Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, despite initial talks, has no plans to negotiate a new contract, potentially opening the door for a move to Arsenal, according to Craig Hope of the Daily Mail.
With three years remaining on his current deal, set to expire in 2028, there appears to be no immediate rush from Isak to pursue an extension, even though Newcastle is scrambling mad trying to lock him for the long run.
Hope reported that while preliminary talks took place toward the end of last season, both sides seemed hesitant to commit, with the striker’s camp reportedly driven by his desire to play UEFA Champions League football putting NUFC’s hopes for a new contract to a sudden end.
According to sources speaking to the Mail, the talks ceased after Isak’s representatives expressed reservations about Newcastle’s pace in advancing their project, which could lead them to seek a transfer if Champions League qualification is not secured this season.
Arsenal, keenly watching the situation and locked into a top-4 finish even if the play walking for the remainder of the Premier League season, are thought to have identified Isak as a prime target and would likely be prepared to offer a record British transfer sum to secure him.
Although Isak has made a strong impression at Newcastle since joining from Real Sociedad for £63 million in 2022—scoring 21 Premier League goals last season—his current campaign has started slowly, with only one goal in seven matches.
Nonetheless, his market value remains as high as it ever was, and Newcastle’s strong financial position places them firmly in control of negotiations next summer. That said, the minute he shows any clue about being upset and not happy at the club, you bet he’ll be shown the door if only for that saucy PSR boost.
For Arsenal, a club in need of a prolific pure striker, Isak represents an ideal option at a reasonable price and availability.
The potential departure would be a significant loss for Newcastle, obviously, even more considering Isak was integral to the improvement of the club in the recent past and their long-term plans.
Yet, with Newcastle’s financial constraints under the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules, sporting director Paul Mitchell has acknowledged that high-profile player trading may be necessary to support future spending.
