Arsenal will be without captain Cesc Fabregas and fellow midfielder Samir Nasri for the trip to Newcastle United on Saturday, manager Arsene Wenger said.
Fabregas looks poised to join Barcelona while Nasri is wanted by Manchester City but Wenger remained coy, telling reporters, "I expect nobody to leave (the club). At the moment there is no news."
Asked about Spain international Fabregas's omission, he added, "Cesc is not on strike. Cesc is not injured, he's not match fit. I don't want to go any deeper than that."
Turning to Nasri, Wenger said the France playmaker was ill while on duty for Wednesday's friendly against Chile.
"Nasri went for the national team, he was sick, and he has not completely recovered yet. There are no other aspects why he is not in the squad," he added.