PREM: Newcastle v Arsenal preview

Newcastle v Arsenal preview

Newcastle Utd manager Rafael Benitez could have midfielders Jonjo Shelvey and Matt Ritchie back for Saturday's Premier League clash with Arsenal.

The influential pair have been out with thigh and knee injuries respectively, but are in the squad for the Gunners' visit to St James' Park.

"These kind of weeks are very difficult because you have players coming back, so you have to check everyone and see how they feel," Benitez said.

"Players here, we have Shelvey and Ritchie training, so no big issues. Everybody was training with more or less problems, but we have to decide now who can play, who cannot.

"But both Ritchie and Shelvey are in the squad."

Arsenal, meanwhile, return to action at St James's Park following the international break, with Unai Emery's squad carrying no fresh injury concerns.

And the Spaniard is hopeful the club can now reap the benefit of Mesut Ozil's international retirement.

The 29-year-old retired from Germany duty under a cloud following their poor performance at the World Cup and politics within the camp.

He has been able to train with Arsenal throughout the recent international break and Emery feels he has enjoyed a rest from playing.

"The players have the habits to play in the international break, in important matches, defending their identity and when one player is finishing that, I think it is also good for them to focus only on their team," he said.

"The reason for Mesut is important for me also, this focus every day with us, a relaxing three days off at the weekend. Mesut, like other players, works very well here and also working the ties and also together to improve things. Mesut, I look at him with the focus totally here."

Newcastle midfielders Ritchie and Shelvey are back in training after respective thigh and knee injuries and may feature against Arsenal.

However, frontman Salomon Rondon and right-back DeAndre Yedlin could be rested after their late return from international duty.

Emery has no fresh injury concerns as he prepares to take his Arsenal side to the north east. Alex Iwobi missed the win at Cardiff before the international break through illness, but is now available, while those who travelled to represent their countries returned unscathed.

Laurent Koscielny (Achilles), Sead Kolasinac (knee), Ainsley Maitland-Niles (leg) and Carl Jenkinson (ankle) all remain absent.