Newcastle United and Arsenal both face major team selection decisions ahead of tonight’s huge Carabao Cup clash at St James’ Park.
The second leg of the semi-final promises to be a nervy, entertaining affair. Newcastle hold a 2-0 advantage from the first leg at the Emirates, but are in the midst of a difficult patch of form.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have come through their own sticking period and stunned Manchester City with a 5-1 win on Sunday. That result and performance means they travel to Tyneside in good spirits, hoping to inflict a third successive defeat on the Magpies after losses against Fulham and Bournemouth.
Both Eddie Howe and Mikel Arteta face selection headaches. Newcastle will be without the injured Jamaal Lascelles and Harvey Barnes, while Joelinton is a serious doubt after picking up a knee injury at the weekend. It would be a shock if the Brazilian was fit.
Those three injuries aside, Newcastle still have a number of options with Howe hoping to be able to call upon Callum Wilson for the first time since December 7. Eddie Howe admitted the return of the experienced frontman would be like a ‘new signing’ with United’s attacking options threadbare.
Nick Pope and Emil Krafth have both returned in recent games too after injuries. Lloyd Kelly drops out of the squad that faced Fulham after his deadline day move to Juventus but with 20 players able to be named, it could open up a place for Matt Targett, Krafth or even a third goalkeeper in Odysseas Vlachodimos.
Arsenal, meanwhile, will be without five senior players for the clash in Newcastle, however. Ben White is edging closer to a return but will play no part at St. James’ Park, with the defender continuing his recovery from knee surgery.
“No news from the game against City and Ben is still out hopefully after the break he will be available,” Arteta said in his pre-match press conference. He was also tight-lipped about Bakayo Saka’s return date, with the winger out after surgery on a hamstring injury. He could return in March.
Takehiro Tomiyasu and Gabriel Jesus are the two other long-term absentees, both with knee injuries. Neto, who is on loan from Bournemouth, is cup tied so will not make the trip up north.
That means, when looking at the official Arsenal website, the Gunners have 17 senior players available for selection for the game vs Newcastle. As per EFL Cup rules, a club is allowed to name a squad of 20 players for a Carabao Cup match.
Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, who are classed as Arsenal Academy players on the Gunners official website, have been included in most matchday squads this season and could start from the off on Wednesday night. Young goalkeeper Jack Porter, who made his senior debut in this competition against Bolton, is expected to be named on the bench with Neto ineligible.
Possible Newcastle squad vs Arsenal: Pope, Dubravka, Trippier, Livramento, Hall, Targett, Burn, Botman, Schar, Krafth, Tonali, Guimareas, Willock, Longstaff, Miley, Murphy, Isak, Gordon, Wilson, Osula
Possible Arsenal squad for Newcastle: Raya, Porter; Timber, Gabriel, Kiwior, Calafiori, Zinchenko, Saliba, Lewis-Skelly, Tierney; Rice, Jorginho, Partey, Merino, Odegaard, Nwaneri; Trossard, Sterling, Havertz, Martinelli
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