Injury concerns cloud Arsenal’s vital victory
Arsenal moved three points clear at the top of the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Newcastle United on Saturday evening, but the result was overshadowed by the sight of two key attacking players limping off with what Mikel Arteta later described as “muscular niggles”.
Eberechi Eze, who had scored the match’s only goal with a superb long-range strike inside the opening ten minutes, was withdrawn early in the second half after going down off the ball. Kai Havertz had already been replaced before the half-hour mark after appearing to tweak something. Both players sat on the bench rather than heading straight down the tunnel, a detail Arteta seized on as a positive sign.
“They are muscular niggles,” the Arsenal manager said. “We don’t think it’s too much. We have to wait and see if they can be available for Wednesday.”
Expanding specifically on Havertz, Arteta added: “He had a little niggle. I don’t know how serious it is. It didn’t look too big. The action, the way he describes it, is not too sharp. But we have to wait and see.”
The term “muscular niggles” covers a broad range of minor soft-tissue issues — from tightness and cramping to low‑grade strains that can resolve in days or sometimes linger. For a squad preparing for a Champions League semi‑final first leg away to Atlético Madrid on Wednesday night, the ambiguity is far from ideal. Havertz has a history of more serious problems: he required surgery on a hamstring injury in February 2025 and missed several months with a knee injury in August 2025. Eze, too, has been dogged by various leg and muscle problems, including a major Achilles tendon injury in May 2021 and, more recently, a knee concern described as “questionable” around the time of this match. Arteta’s guarded optimism — “We have to wait and see” — reflects the reality that even minor muscular complaints can rule players out of a midweek European tie if they fail to respond quickly.
Eze’s strike settles a tense affair
The victory itself was built on the kind of early incision Arsenal have often lacked in tight games. Eze collected the ball 25 yards out, turned and lashed an unstoppable shot beyond the Newcastle goalkeeper to give the home side a lead they never relinquished. It was enough to lift Arteta’s side to 73 points, three clear of Manchester City, who were not in league action that weekend. Arsenal had started the day in second place, level on points with City but behind on goal difference.
Referee Samuel Barrott, who has now overseen nine Arsenal matches — of which they have won eight — kept a relatively low profile. His VAR, Jarred Gillett, had little to do as the Gunners held on for a clean sheet. Newcastle, stuck in 14th place on 42 points, rarely threatened, partly because they were without a string of key players: Anthony Gordon (hip), Joelinton (suspension), Tino Livramento (ankle), Fabian Schär and Emil Krafth were all unavailable, while Bruno Guimarães was declared fully fit.
The result also extended Arsenal’s strong recent record against Newcastle. They had won 2-1 at St James’ Park earlier this season and beaten the Magpies 1-0 at the Emirates in May 2025. Newcastle’s last Premier League win at this ground remains November 2010.
Additional fitness updates
Beyond the Eze and Havertz concerns, Arteta confirmed that midfielder Martin Zubimendi had been struggling with illness before and during the match. “Zubi was sick,” the manager said. “At half‑time he wasn’t feeling good. He tried his very best, I think he played a really good game. But at the end we had to take him off.” Zubimendi was replaced with ten minutes remaining. The Spaniard has had previous issues with a “severe sickness bug” before a game against Manchester United and was also withdrawn from the Spanish national squad in March 2026 due to knee discomfort, though Saturday’s substitution appeared precautionary.
On a more positive note, Bukayo Saka was available for the Newcastle match after recovering from an Achilles injury, and Riccardo Calafiori returned from a knock. Martin Ødegaard featured after coming through his start against Manchester City unscathed, following a recent knee setback. Jurrien Timber remains out with a groin and ankle problem, while Mikel Merino is sidelined long‑term with a foot injury and is not expected back for at least two weeks.
Arteta has yet to field Eze and Havertz alongside Ødegaard and Saka this season because of the succession of injury issues that has disrupted his attacking options. With the first leg of the Champions League semi‑final against Atlético Madrid looming at the Metropolitano on Wednesday (8pm UK time, return leg at the Emirates on 5 May), the next 48 hours of assessment will be critical. “We have to wait and see,” Arteta repeated. For now, Arsenal have the points — but the fitness of their key men remains very much in the balance.
