Huge blow: NUFC dealt setback as early Arsenal team news emerges, Howe will be fuming - opinion

Newcastle United have been hit with a setback as early Arsenal team news has emerged…

According to The Guardian, Ben White is expected to start for the Gunners tonight after he was not deemed fit enough to come off the bench in their clash with Tottenham last time out.

Rob Holding is suspended for Mikel Arteta after he was sent off in the derby clash and Gabriel came off with a knock, although he may be available to face the Magpies.

The Toon head coach will be fuming with this update as he may have been watching the carnage unfold on Thursday night and licking his lips at the prospect of facing a makeshift backline.

Full-back Takehiro Tomiyasu and central midfielder Granit Xhaka ended up playing at the heart of the defence, with Cedric Soares and Nuno Tavares in the full-back roles.

The Magpies boss would surely love to watch his Newcastle team in action against a backline consisting of two unnatural centre-backs, particularly as he now has Callum Wilson available for selection.

In the 5-0 loss to Manchester City, the ex-Bournemouth striker made his return off the bench and he may now be ready to come back into the starting XI. He has scored 18 Premier League goals in 37 starts for the Magpies as he has shown that he is a clinical goalscorer when fit.

Therefore, Howe would have been excited by the prospect of unleashing him from the start against a far from steady Arsenal defence. Wilson could have exploited their lack of centre-back options by causing constant problems for Xhaka with his movement in behind, which is why this positive injury update for Arsenal is a seismic blow for the Toon as they will not have that advantage.

Instead, he will be up against White – who has caught the eye this season. The England