Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta offered a cautiously positive update after Kai Havertz and Eberechi Eze picked up problems during Saturday’s Premier League win over Newcastle United.

Arteta played down the severity of both issues at the Emirates, saying the injuries were not believed to be serious and that the pair “could yet feature when Arsenal play the first leg of their Champions League semifinal against Atlético Madrid in the Spanish capital.” He told reporters: “They are muscular niggles, we don’t think it’s too much. We have to wait and see if they’re going to be available for Wednesday,”

Havertz left the field early after pulling up in the first half and walked straight down the tunnel. Eze required on-pitch treatment before taking a seat on the bench. After the game the match-winner told Sky Sports: “I’m alright. I’m all good, it was just a precaution. I didn’t want to do anything [more severe], I’ll be O.K.”

The optimism is tempered by recent history. Just last month, Eze dismissed concerns over any injury before being forced to sit out three games, including the Carabao Cup final, with a calf problem. Any absence for either player would harm Arsenal’s chances of ending a 22-year wait for a Premier League title and their bid to reach and win their first Champions League.

Viktor Gyökeres remained on the bench behind Havertz for a second successive match as Arteta persisted with the German as his centre forward. Gyökeres, signed so Havertz could occupy a deeper role, has struggled for impact against weaker opposition and is yet to score a non-penalty goal against any of the Premier League’s current top 10. Arteta picked Havertz as his No. 9 a week ago against Manchester City and again for the visit of Newcastle, with Gyökeres introduced only when the German could not continue.

The jury is still out on Eze following last summer’s $90 million (£67.5 million) transfer from Crystal Palace. He has scored five of his seven Premier League goals this season in just two matches against Tottenham Hotspur—and only two against anyone else.

Opta’s supercomputer has maintained a clear preference for Arsenal as the title run-in tightens following Saturday’s fixtures. The model assigns Arsenal 81.52 predicted points from their current 73 and a 70.85% chance of winning the title. Manchester City, on 70, are forecast to finish on 79.35 points with a 29.15% chance.

Mikel Arteta warned there would be “plenty more strife to come” after his side’s win, and he insisted the Newcastle match was “Game One” of a five-match shootout. Opta’s projection appears to value remaining fixtures as much as form: Arsenal still face two of the current bottom four, plus Crystal Palace and Fulham, while City’s run includes Everton, Brentford, Bournemouth and a final day trip to Aston Villa.

The supercomputer also sees the Champions League places effectively settled. Manchester United, Liverpool and Aston Villa — each on 58 points — are predicted to finish on 65.75, 63.99 and 64.27 respectively, with qualification chances above 96% for all three.

Europa and Conference places are less clear. Brighton lead the models for sixth with a projected 56.41 points and a 44.69% likelihood of finishing sixth. Bournemouth, Chelsea, Brentford, Fulham and Everton remain in contention but are given substantially lower chances.

At the other end, Burnley and Wolves are confirmed as relegated in the projections with 100% probabilities. Leeds and Nottingham Forest are given minimal relegation risk, while West Ham and Tottenham occupy the precarious middle. Opta gives West Ham a 38.26% relegation probability and Tottenham a 58.57% chance. The draft weekend drama left Spurs briefly out of the drop zone on April 26 before events at other grounds swung matters back: João Palhinha’s winning goal at Molineux and Everton’s late equalizer earlier in the day were followed by Callum Wilson’s winner for West Ham, ensuring his side remained two points clear of Tottenham.

Opta’s forecast narrows the gap between the top two to two predicted points, underscoring how small margins over the final fixtures may decide the title.

Mikel Arteta confirmed Bukayo Saka will be part of the matchday squad for Saturday’s visit from Newcastle United, a welcome development as Arsenal seek to arrest a late-season dip.

The 24-year-old has struggled for fitness this season, with this his third period on the sidelines this year. While none of his injury woes have been particularly serious, they have prevented Saka from building up any sort of momentum. “We have given him some time because there was a moment that he was struggling to sustain the performances because he wasn’t comfortable at all and we’ve done that so he had the right treatment, the right space,” Arteta explained before the game.

“He had some time as well for himself and now it’s the most important part of the season and he’s back with us.

The timing of Saka’s return matters. Watching a fatigued, physically bruised squad fall into a slump at the end of the season is nothing new to Arteta, and it is no coincidence that Arsenal’s title hopes have once again faded during Saka’s latest spell on the sidelines.

Arsenal’s wider fitness problems are easing. Saka returns to the squad alongside left back Riccardo Calafiori, while captain Martin Ødegaard made a surprise return to the starting lineup against City last time out. The manager made clear that availability alone is not the final goal: “Being available is not enough,” Arteta reflected. “Being available with your best version is what we need in this stage of the season. But at least they are with us. They certainly make us stronger.

“We miss them. And now all the players as well, they’ve just come back as well. They’re going to have more games, more minutes, and hopefully we will see a performance as well.

Arteta’s comments underline the importance of regaining full fitness across the squad as Arsenal prepare for a key fixture against Newcastle. The inclusion of Saka and Calafiori restores options and experience as the team aims to recover momentum.