Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Newcastle, but it came at the cost of Kai Havertz and Ebelesi Eze being sent off injured.
Mikel Arteta gives an update after the match (Image: Sky Sports)
Manager Mikel Arteta has suggested that the injuries suffered by Kai Havertz and Eberechi Eze against Newcastle may not be serious. Eze scored the decisive goal in a nervous 1-0 win on Saturday night, but fans left the Emirates Stadium worried about their two key players.
Injuries to their attackers dampened the glow of a precious victory, but Eze’s stunning first-half goal was enough to return them to the top of the Premier League. Havertz teed up the England star from a short corner in the ninth minute, but was sent off and collapsed after the half-hour mark.
And the injury situation worsened when Eze left the pitch early in the second half and was replaced by Gabriel Martinelli.
Asked by Sky Sports for an update on the pair after the match, Arteta said: “We’ll see. At the moment they have to be taken care of, but hopefully they’ll be okay.”
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read more: Arsenal end Newcastle’s winning streak at 18 with title boost despite recent injuriesread more: Kai Havertz and Ebelesi Eze sent off with injuries – worrying blow for Arsenal against Newcastle
In a separate interview with Match of the Day, Arteta added: “Both had to come off. I think it was a small scrape. I don’t know how bad it is. We’ll probably know more tomorrow.”
Asked about using Martin Odegaard and Eze together for the second time this season, Arteta said: “Well, they haven’t been used very much this season so that played a big role.
“Kai and Bukayo (Saka) have never played together, which is unbelievable. We’ve had to deal with a lot of situations this season. We lost some players tonight, but the good thing is the team continues to compete.”
Losing either Eze or Havertz for an extended period of time will be a huge blow to Arsenal, who started the afternoon on goal difference with the title race now at its climax.
Kai Havertz injured in the first half (Image: Izzy Poles/AMA)
Havertz was re-selected in the summer ahead of signing Victor Gokeres to lead the line, with Eze impressing in an advanced midfield role alongside Martin Odegaard.
“That makes it more difficult,” Jamie Redknapp told Sky Sports. “If you at least have an option off the bench and you need that striker, it feels like the best option between the two, whether you start with Havertz or not. Maybe you start someone else up front, maybe you play Eze as a false nine up front.
“As an option, you would want to have another treatment. To be honest, it wasn’t good. Eze, maybe not as much, but he might be okay. But I didn’t feel that Havertz would be okay for a few weeks, but I’m not a doctor.”
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