Satka ready to step up
Teenage defender Lubomir Satka is ready to answer Newcastle's call to arms as head coach John Carver attempts to cope with a defensive crisis.
The 19-year-old Slovakian was an unused substitute in last weekend's 3-0 Barclays Premier League defeat at Everton but could find himself called upon as Arsenal head for St James' Park on Saturday with Carver's resources stretched by skipper Fabricio Coloccini's suspension.
However, he insists he will not be fazed if he is handed a league debut for the club.
Satka told the club's official website, www.nufc.co.uk: "It doesn't scare me. I don't feel any pressure. I want to say I'm ready, but I guess you never know until you actually play. But I'm excited.
"If I get called upon, I'll try my best. Hopefully I'll make my debut and it'll be good for me to be tested against good players.
"Obviously, it would be a big test for me - I'm still young - but it would be a great learning experience."
Carver is unlikely to throw Satka in at the deep end against the Gunners, conscious of how a young player's confidence can be affected if things do not go well, but the fact that he has few options at the back means he could be involved at some stage.
Coloccini's absence has simply exacerbated a problem caused by a lengthy injury list which will rob the Magpies of Steven Taylor, Paul Dummett and Massadio Haidara, once again underlining the risk the club took when deciding not to bring in cover during the January transfer window.
The timing could hardly be worse for Carver, who is attempting to persuade not only owner Mike Ashley and managing director Lee Charnley, but sceptical fans too, that he is the man to succeed Alan Pardew on a permanent basis.
However, he at least has the support of the occupant of the opposition dug-out on Saturday, with Arsene Wenger having voiced the opinion that he has "the qualities to do the job".
Carver said: "That's nice, because people in the game understand what is going on. He (Wenger) understands that if he was here in these circumstances, he would have a problem dealing with it.
"We've seen sides in the past when they pick up four or five injuries, it affects them, especially when it's their best players. We've got eight or nine - and six or seven would be in the team."
Coloccini will sit out after failing in his red card appeal.
The Argentina international was sent off for a challenge on Aaron Lennon during Sunday's 3-0 defeat at Everton and will be suspended for three games, joining striker Papiss Cisse on the sidelines as he serves the second stage of his seven-match ban.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger wants his team to focus on maintaining their own performances levels over the final nine Barclays Premier League games rather than worry about whether leaders Chelsea might slip up again.
Despite having gone out of the Champions League to Monaco on away goals after Wednesday night's 2-0 win at the Stade Louis II Stadium, with a run of eight victories from the last nine league matches, Arsenal are certainly in fine domestic form, having also progressed to the semi-finals of the FA Cup, where they will face Reading at Wembley on April 18.
Following last weekend's Premier League results, which saw Manchester City lose and leaders Chelsea held to a draw at Stamford Bridge by Southampton, Blues boss Jose Mourinho declared the Gunners now back in the title race, albeit still seven points behind and having played a match more.
Arsenal will host Chelsea at the end of April, but Wenger maintains his men must first continue to deliver consistent results and not concern themselves with the form of other sides.
"At the moment we are too far away from Chelsea, but we have an opportunity every week to get closer and for that we need positive results from us, and negative results from Chelsea. The only thing we can master is positive results from us," said Wenger, who takes his team to Newcastle on Saturday.
"I believe Chelsea still has a very good cushion and very good security."
Wenger continued: "It is very tight.
"We are on the neck of Man City, but straight behind us we have Man United and Liverpool, even Tottenham and Southampton are not completely out of it.
"But we just have to focus on our performances and our strengths. I do not count on the weaknesses of any of our opponents.
"It is down to our performances until the end of the season."
Source: PA
