Newcastle United handed 'big boost' v Arsenal as key attacker back after four-week Premier League absence
Anthony Gordon is in line to make his first Premier League appearance for Newcastle United in four weeks.
Newcastle United will have Anthony Gordon available for Sunday’s Premier League clash at home to Arsenal (kick-off 4:30pm).
Gordon last appeared for the Magpies in the Premier League when they lost 3-2 to Liverpool in their St James’ Park opener on Monday, August 25.
The 24-year-old started the opening day draw away to Aston Villa and retained his place against the Reds, however, he was shown a straight red card on the brink of half-time for a late tackle on Virgil van Dijk.
Gordon was handed a three-match suspension, forcing him to sit out of league matches against Leeds United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and AFC Bournemouth.
The winger played in last week’s 2-1 defeat to Barcelona as his ban did not carry over to the Champions League before making his domestic return in Wednesday’s 4-1 win versus Bradford City in the Carabao Cup.
Ahead of facing Arsenal, Gordon is in line to play his first Premier League game in four weeks.
Newcastle United handed ‘big boost’ versus Arsenal
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said: “Yeah, it's a big boost for us to have him back fully. The Barcelona game, of course, was sandwiched in between his suspension in the Premier League, which was a game we utilised him in.
“But I think now that's fully over, I think he can really focus now on the few games that we have to come before the next international break.
“I thought he was excellent against Bradford. I thought he looked sharp, he was creative, certainly had the right attitude to the game and certainly helped the team deliver a good performance.”
Gordon has performed well against Arsenal of recent late, having scored in both legs of the Magpies’ Carabao Cup semi-final win earlier this year. Prior to that, Gordon set up Alexander Isak’s goal in last season’s 1-0 league win at St James’ Park.
“Yeah, I think that we need that attitude from everybody,” when asked if Gordon was a ‘big-game’ player. “We need everyone to be big game players and I think certainly when you look at our season, we're playing big games every three, four days.
“I don't think there is a small game for us. So yeah, he's someone that has done really well in those type of games. For me, a player that rises to the occasion and as I say, we're going to need everyone to do that on Sunday.”
Eddie Howe previews Newcastle United vs Arsenal
On Arsenal, Howe said: “I think it's always been competitive against Arsenal in the games that I've been here and there has been an edge to those games because I think both teams are desperate to win. Yeah, we sort of encourage that.
“I think the more competitive we are, the better we play. So certainly we need to bring that side of our game.
“They're a different team but likewise we're a different team. I think you go into a new season full of hope and expectation of what you can be. We're still in that moment where we're finding out what team we're going to be. Really positive signs I think this season in the sense that we look solid.
“But against Bradford you saw signs of the creative side of our game and the technical side was in a really strong place midweek and we're going to need similar.”