Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is still working with a couple of doubts for Saturday's Premier League showdown with Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners travelled to Porto in midweek without the services of five injured players, as Thomas Partey (thigh), Jurrien Timber (ACL), Gabriel Jesus (knee), Oleksandr Zinchenko (calf) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knock) failed to make the journey.
Arteta confirmed in his pre-game press conference that Partey and Jesus are "very close" to returning, but Zinchenko and Tomiyasu will require a bit more time to get up to speed.
Owing to their defensive absences, there will likely be no respite for Jakub Kiwior, Ben White, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes at the back, as the quartet protect number one goalkeeper David Raya once again.
The same can be said for Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice in midfield, although all of Jorginho, Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira - back in the squad on Wednesday following groin surgery - could compete for the final place in Arteta's trident.
Jorginho might be the fortunate soul to benefit from some rotation, and the Italian's inclusion could lead to a slight tactical switch from Arteta, who will likely wish to utilise Kai Havertz's height against the likes of Dan Burn and Sven Botman.
The German could therefore act as the focal point of the attack if Jesus is not risked, thereby forcing Leandro Trossard down to the bench as Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli operate on the flanks.
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Odegaard, Rice, Jorginho; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Ben Knapton
