Arteta updates the availability of two main defenders

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Arteta updates the availability of two main defenders before taking Arsenal to Newcastle.

Mikel Arteta has addressed the availability of centre-backs Gabriel Maganyes and William Saliba with injuries ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Newcastle in the Premier League this weekend.

Saliba has sideline since the beginning of April. While Gabriel was injured late in the game against Chelsea in the last game. And both risk missing both of them in another crucial game for the Gunners.

“We will come and assess him tomorrow how he will be. But he didn’t finish the game in the last game. So it’s some sign for us. And we will wait and see how he will be tomorrow.

“William, nothing is different. He was feeling better every day. But there’s still nothing he can do with the first team. Therefore, we expect him to be out of the team for one more game. Will he not play with the team this season? We haven’t thought of that yet. because we always have hope and the players desire to play But if in the end it has to like. That we will announce Hopefully we don’t have to announce something like that.”

Arsenal are left with Rob Holding and Yakub Kivior as defensive options, with Ben White as an alternative at centre-back.

Saliba has forge a formidable partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes in the heart of defence with the pair starting all 12 Premier League games together.

But his future at Arsenal remains in question with the France international into the final year of his contract.

The north London giants do have the option to extend Saliba’s stay by a further 12 months, but the club is desperate to keep him.

Keen to tie him down to fresh terms and secure his future, it has been claimed the Gunners have offered him a new deal following weeks of talks.

Still, Spanish news outlet Fichajes claim Atletico are keeping tabs on Saliba with boss Diego Simeone a huge admirer.

Simeone is in the market for a new centre-half with the likes of Jose Maria Gimenez, Stefan Savic and Felipe ‘not at the level expected of them’ this term, with Atletico crashing out of the Champions League and missing out on a Europa League spot this week.