Arsenal Team News: Lacazette a doubt for Newcastle as Pepe awaits Emery decision

Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette could miss Sunday’s Premier League opener away at Newcastle. The Frenchman injured his ankle in the first half of Arsenal’s 1-0 loss to Lyon in the Emirates Cup two weeks ago.

He subsequently missed the team’s last pre-season friendly match against Barcelona in the Camp Nou. On Friday, Arsenal revealed that the striker is a doubt for the Newcastle clash and is still being assessed on his ankle.

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New Club record signing Nicholas Pepe is also a doubt as he is yet to regain full match fitness following his late arrival due to his involvement in the Africa Cup Of Nations with the Ivory Coast. Unai Emery will is yet to decide on whether to hand him his debut on Sunday. Egyptian midfielder Mohammed Elneny is also not fully fit.

On the long term injuries, Spanish right-back Hector Bellerin is continuing his rehabilitation for the knee injury he suffered in January last season. He is expected to resume full training in early October.

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Defender Rob Holding has however fully recovered from his knee injury and is in full training with the rest of the squad while Dinos Mavropanos and Emile Smith Rowe will not feature against Newcastle owning to groin injuries.

The Gunners will look to start this season on winning note after losing their first two matches last season albeit to stringer sides in Manchester City and Chelsea respectively.

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