Arsenal dealt Takehiro Tomiyasu injury blow in Newcastle clash

Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu has been forced off with an apparent hamstring problem in Monday's Premier League clash with Newcastle United at St James' Park.

The Japan international took his place on the right-hand side of the backline, with Gabriel Magalhaes and Ben White both fit to start in the heart of defence.

However, Tomiyasu struggled to contain the lively Allan Saint-Maximin as Newcastle ran the Gunners ragged in the opening exchanges.

With 38 minutes on the clock, the injury-plagued Tomiyasu - who has struggled with calf injuries for the majority of 2022 - went down holding his hamstring on the St James' Park turf.

Cedric Soares immediately replaced Tomiyasu for Mikel Arteta's side, who have been second best to Newcastle's intensity and were indebted to Aaron Ramsdale for keeping out Saint-Maximin's low effort.

Should Arsenal fail to turn the tie around in the second half and win, Tottenham Hotspur will be in the driving seat for fourth place before their final-day meeting with Norwich City.