Arsene Wenger admits he could be without defensive double act Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker again at Newcastle.
Koscielny has not fully recovered from a back injury which kept him out of Monday’s Liverpool game while Mertesacker is also still ill.
It means Calum Chambers and Gabriel could play again on Saturday despite their nervy display with Wenger desperately hoping that either Koscielny or Mertesacker recover in time.
Gunners boss Wenger said: “Mertesacker is still sick and we will know more about Koscielny today. He might have a test on his back today and I will certainly know more tomorrow morning. The less likely to be fit is Mertesacker.”
There was better news for Wenger on Danny Welbeck and Jack Wilshere as he hopes both will soon be back after the international break.
“Danny Welbeck is progressing well,” said Wenger. “He should be available, if all goes well, after the international break.
“Jack Wilshere is just behind Welbeck, maybe one week after the international break he will certainly come back into full training.”
Wenger has also backed Aaron Ramsey’s call for video technology on offside decisions after the Arsenal midfielder’s was wrongly ruled out against Liverpool.
Goal line technology has already been brought in to good effect and Wenger is convinced that offside decisions will be next.
It follows not just Ramsey’s but also Liverpool’s controversial winner against Bournemouth the following week which should have been flagged offside.
Wenger said: “I can ask you the other question - do you think we will play football in 50 years without that? I don’t think so. I am convinced it will come in and that the next step will be the offside rule because it is maybe the easiest one to bring in.
“There were two examples last week - one on Monday night and the two Mondays yes. I believe it will happen on the demand of the referee.
“The sooner the better. Tomorrow morning you would have my signature! Not because we were punished for that goal [against Liverpool] but because we want justice and the right decisions to be made.”
Wenger also delivered a pessimistic message for Arsenal fans as he clearly does not believe there will be any new signings ahead of Tuesday’s deadline.
“I don’t know because I am always confident that a last minute situation or solution is available, because the transfer market is especially moving in the last four or five days,” said Wenger.
“But at the moment I cannot promise you that. We work very hard, you know I have a team around me who work day and night to find good solutions but at the moment we are not close to signing anyone.”