Alexandre Lacazette injury update as Unai Emery fears striker will miss Arsenal clash against Newcastle in Premier League opener

ARSENAL boss Unai Emery has revealed Alexandre Lacazette could still miss their Premier League opener against Newcastle.

The French forward, 28, missed the 2-1 friendly defeat against Barcelona with an ankle injury sustained last weekend against Lyon.

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But Gunners chief Emery claims the medical team are "optimistic" regarding Lacazette's chances of taking to the pitch on Sunday.

Emery revealed: "Hopefully he could be available for the match against Newcastle.

"The doctors, they are optimistic. We are going to wait.

"The next days are going to be very important to see how he is going to progress with his injury.

HAPPY EMERY

"But I am really, really happy with other players also. If he is ready for Sunday, perfect. If he isn't, then for the next.

"We need now to have a very competitive team, with the players ready for the next matches.

"But above all [we must] create a mentality to start strong and find our best performance in the next match."

Meanwhile, Granit Xhaka says he is unsure who Arsenal's skipper will be for the game against Newcastle - after Emery revealed he had a five-man captaincy team in mind.

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The Swiss star, one of three potential captains named by Emery, said: "Nobody has spoken about the captain's armband.

"The coach hasn't decided but if I have the armband of course I will be happy, it's something special.

"But in the end we have to all be captains on the pitch and outside out of the pitch because we need everyone."