Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard are both battling an illness that has found its way into the dressing room.
Havertz missed the New Year's Day win over Brentford and, despite some initial optimism, was again left out of the squad for Saturday's 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albionfor which club captain Odegaard also went down to the bench.
With a visit from in-form Newcastle United coming up on Tuesday for the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final, Arteta admitted both Havertz and Odegaard are struggling with their fitness.
“Kai tried, but he was really honest and said: 'I can't even train, I'm not feeling well at all,'” Arteta revealed after the match. “We tried to see if he could train and he tried his best but he wasn't able to do it.
“Martin didn't train and said 'I'll see how I feel (on Saturday)' and he did his best to be here because we know the numbers we have.”
of Arsenal injury The crisis deepened during the match as Ethan Nwaneri, who has impressed in place of the unavailable Bukayo Saka, was withdrawn at half-time.
“It's really bad news because I think we've lost him,” Arteta said of the teenager. We had to take him off in the first half because of some muscle problems.”