Arsene Wenger Talks Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker, More in Arsenal Presser

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed the club could be without first-choice centre-back pair Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker for the team’s visit to Newcastle United on Saturday.

The Frenchman was addressing the media on Thursday at his weekly news conference and provided an update on the fitness of a host of injured players, including the aforementioned duo, who both missed Monday's clash with Liverpool, per James Olley of the London Evening Standard:

Aside from the defenders, the Gunners have been without England internationals Danny Welbeck and Jack Wilshere in the early parts of the season. Wenger provided a positive prognosis on their respective recoveries, per Olley:

Arsenal will be desperate to get a win under their belt after another underwhelming 0-0 display at the Emirates Stadium against Liverpool. The Gunners have yet to score a goal on home soil in this campaign and have just four points from their opening three games. Admittedly, it could have been worse, as Liverpool spurned a host of chances against the Londoners in the previous match.

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Wenger wasn’t too concerned by what many viewed as a ropey display, though, per Hamish Mackay of the Daily Mirror:

"

Not enough has been made of what a good game Monday night was. At the moment at home, we’re just trying to force it.

Teams come and sit back sometimes. In both halves against Liverpool we created chances but couldn’t finish. That will come back, it goes in cycles.

"

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One way to help lift the angst that has engulfed the Emirates would be to bring in some new faces. As of yet, the only major signing the Gunners have made in the window has been goalkeeper Petr Cech. While the Czech stopper will prove to be a stellar capture, there’s no denying more replenishment is needed in other positions if the club are to mount a serious a title challenge.

But as Olley notes, Wenger didn’t sound confident about drafting any names in before the transfer deadline passes on Tuesday:

A clash against Newcastle probably comes at the ideal time for the Gunners, all things considered. Arsenal have an excellent record against the Magpies, winning the last seven meetings in succession. But there were signs of an emboldened Toon Army in their last outing, as they held Manchester United to a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford.

“It’s important that we prepare well,” said Wenger, clearly expecting a tough game, per Mackay’s piece. “It’s always very tight and very committed there because the crowd is behind them. We have always done very well.”

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It doesn’t take much for Arsenal to be plunged into crisis, and there’s no doubt a loss up in the north-east could do it. A poor start, no new faces and no transfer business to come could easily amalgamate as a perfect storm of frustration for this group of players, and it’s imperative that the club achieves a positive outcome as a result.

Arsenal seem a little more at ease playing on the road at the moment anyway, and their aforementioned sequence of victories against Newcastle will count for a lot. But with concerns about the fitness of both central defenders, the hosts will smell blood and view this clash as an ideal opportunity to spring a shock.