The latest team news has emerged ahead of the weekend’s game against Newcastle, and it looks like Arsene Wenger is going to have be creative when it comes to the defence.

Laurent Koscielny appears to be a major doubt right now while the manager has ruled out Nacho Monreal with a foot injury. Calum Chambers is, of course, suspended after his red card against Stoke last Saturday.

That leaves Wenger with just four first team defenders. Per Mertesacker, the recently returned Mathieu Debuch, Hector Bellerin and Kieran Gibbs who was carrying a knock and not risked in midweek against Galatasaray.

The eagle-eyed will have spotted that there’s just one central defender in there so quite how he figures this one out remains to be seen. He may call up youngster Semi Ajayi or play one of his full backs in the middle.

Speaking to the official site, Wenger said, “Our main problems are still defensively because Laurent Koscielny looks like he will not be quite ready, Nacho Monreal is not back and Calum Chambers is suspended.

“Mikel Arteta is not ready and Theo Walcott is out.”

There’s also a worry about Aaron Ramsey who was taken off at half-time in Turkey with a hamstring problem and faces tests today and tomorrow to see if he can make it.

All in all, we could do with some of that potion Asterix used to drink. Anyone know any good druids?