£50m Newcastle target set to miss chance to impress at St James' Park on Saturday

Newcastle United have a tricky fixture on Saturday as Mikel Arteta brings his unbeaten Arsenal side to St James' Park.

Arsenal are one of two unbeaten sides in the Premier League so far this season, but they do come to Tyneside off the back of a 3-1 defeat in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.

Eddie Howe will be using that fact, and Newcastle's historic win over Manchester United at Old Trafford to inspire his lads before the two sides meet on Saturday evening.

Newcastle aren't expecting any players to return for the Arsenal game

Newcastle have a new injury in the form of Matt Targett to add to the list, and none of the current crop of crocks is expected to return in time to face the Gunners.

But it looks like Arsenal have some concerns of their own with Martin Odegaard seemingly not fully fit according to Mikel Arteta (via Ben Dinnery on X), and reported Newcastle target Emile Smith Rowe facing some time in the treatment room.

Newcastle are reportedly looking at Emile Smith Rowe as someone to fill the gap left by Sandro Tonali after he was banned for the remainder of the season.

The Magpies will probably be looking at a loan move with Tonali back in contention next season, which is just as well as Goal believes Arsenal value Smith Rowe at £50million.

Confidence is rising

Given that it now sounds like Smith Rowe will be out for a while, he definitely seems to fit the Newcastle mould this season as our injury worries continue to pile up.

If Odegaard isn't fully fit that surely has to be a huge advantage to Newcastle as he has been a huge part of Arsenal's rise under Arteta.

It's still too close to call, but confidence is rising.