Mathieu Flamini and Alex Hleb have joined Arsenal's lengthy injury list for tomorrow's game at St. James' Park. The pair join fellow midfielders Cesc Fabregas and Abou Diaby, as well as long-term casualty Robin van Persie.
Hleb picked up a hamstring injury during Arsenal's 2-1 victory over Aston Villa over the weekend after a nasty tackle.
Flamini, who has also been on great form this season, will miss the game at Newcastle due to a recurrence of a thigh injury.
However, Arsene Wenger was upbeat, confident in the Arsenal midfield with Neves Denilson returning to the squad.
"We have lost Alex Hleb and Mathieu Flamini from Saturday at Villa," Wenger told Arsenal TV Online.
"We have no-one back so that's Diaby, Van Persie, Hleb, Flamini and Fabregas out for this game.
"At one stage we thought it was congested in midfield but now it looks bare," he added. "But we still have quality players coming in there. We have Gilberto while Denilson is back after an injury. He is travelling with us. So we are very confident that we are still strong in the midfield."
Wenger shouldn't be too worried, as Arsenal's Carling Cup side already beat Newcastle 2-0 in the cup this season.
