Arsenal forward Kai Havertz could feature in their Premier League home game against Newcastle United after recovering from hamstring surgery, manager Mikel Arteta said on Friday as the north London club look to consolidate second place.

Kai Havertz has a chance of playing for Arsenal against Newcastle after breaking all metrics in his return to the squad. Mikel Arteta faced the media ahead of Arsenal’s match with Newcastle United with the sides locked in a battle to finish second in the league.

Newcastle United promotion winner Dwight Gayle has confirmed he is to bring down the curtain on his playing career just days after helping Scottish club Hibs secure European football.

Six Premier League teams separated by six points are battling it out for the four remaining Champions League spots with two rounds of matches left and no team can rest easy, although they have all secured European football for next season.

Eddie Howe has warned his Newcastle players not to get "distracted" ahead of Sunday's trip to second-placed Arsenal as they seek to nail down a Champions League spot next season. Newcastle have beaten Arsenal three times this season -- once in the Premier League and in both legs of the League Cup semi-finals -- but Howe said they had been tough opponents.