Arsenal hit with double fitness blow ahead of Newcastle clash
Arsenal hit with double fitness blow ahead of Newcastle clash. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard are both battling a sickness bug that has found its way into the dressing room.
Recall that Havertz missed New Year’s Day’s win over Brentford and, despite some initial optimism, and was again left out of the squad for Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion, for which club captain Odegaard also dropped to the bench.
With a visit from the in-form Newcastle United coming on Tuesday for the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final, Arteta admitted both Havertz and Odegaard are struggling with their fitness.
“Kai tried but he really was very honest and said, ‘I can’t even train, I’m not feeling good at all’,” Arteta revealed after the game.
“We tried to see if he could train and he tried his best but he wasn’t able to do that.
“Martin didn’t train and said ‘I will see how I feel [on Saturday] and he did his best to be here because we know the numbers that we have.”
Arsenal’s injury crisis deepened during the game as Ethan Nwaneri, who has impressed in place of the unavailable Bukayo Saka, was withdrawn at half-time.
“It’s really bad news because I think we’ve lost him,” Arteta said of the teenager.
“We had to take him off at half-time with some muscular issues.”
