Isak suffered a groin injury last month and had to leave the Magpies’ 3-1 victory against Aston Villa. Since then, he has missed all three of the team’s games.
Willock, on the other hand, has struggled with injury all season long, playing just 301 minutes in six outings across all competitions.
After missing the start of the season due to a hamstring injury, the former Arsenal midfielder is nearing the end of his recuperation from an Achilles issue that has kept him out since mid-November.
Both of the Newcastle players have participated in training this week, according to Howe, and they will be evaluated before their trip to North London on Saturday.
Eddie Howe provided an update on the team’s fitness during a press conference on Friday, stating, “They have trained this week – it has been good to see them back on the grass.” He specifically mentioned Joe and Alex, expressing delight at having Joe back after a long period, highlighting his significance to the squad. Regarding Alex, Howe emphasized his importance and mentioned that both players have trained well.
While Fabian Schar has also been training and is in contention to face Arsenal, despite a previous concern when he left the pitch holding his arm after the draw with Bournemouth, there are still players unavailable for selection. Callum Wilson (pectoral), Nick Pope (shoulder), Matt Targett, Joelinton (both thigh), Elliot Anderson (back), and Sandro Tonali (suspension) remain unavailable for the upcoming match. The final decision on the participation of recently recovered players will depend on the last training session, and Howe expressed satisfaction with their progress so far.
Eddie Howe acknowledged the challenge ahead as Newcastle prepares to face Arsenal, emphasizing the need for a performance close to their best to secure a positive result. Newcastle secured a 1-0 victory against Arsenal in their last encounter in November, and Howe believes replicating such a performance is crucial against their title-chasing opponents.
“We will need to replicate close to our best performance in order to get something from the game,” Howe stated. He highlighted the team’s history of tight matches against Arsenal in recent seasons, citing their battling performance at the Emirates last season. Howe recognized the defensive improvement as a key challenge for Newcastle in the upcoming fixture.
Arsenal has been performing exceptionally well this season, ranking among the top teams statistically in the league. Howe acknowledged the quality of Arsenal’s overall game and the challenge it poses for Newcastle. Despite being unbeaten in their last four Premier League games, Newcastle currently sits eighth in the table, one point behind seventh-placed Brighton & Hove Albion, seven points behind sixth-placed Manchester United, and 10 points adrift of sixth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.