Laurent Koscielny unlikely to feature in Arsenal's match vs. Newcastle

Arsenal look set to enter their Premier League match Saturday with just one natural centre back following news that Laurent Koscielny could miss the team's clash with Newcastle.

Manager Arsene Wenger doubts the French international will feature in the game following a calf injury he picked up during a match against Southampton on Dec. 3. This makes Per Mertesacker the team's only healthy player at the centre back position.

Adding to the team's woes at the position is Calum Chambers's absence after picking up a fifth yellow card, which will force him to miss the game due to suspension.

Wenger will be forced be tactically creative, and players such as Mathieu Debuchy, a right back, could be asked to play out of position. The French manager could also give one of Arsenal's youth players an opportunity to start.

It's an unfortunate situation for Koscielny, after his long road to recovery from an Achilles injury kept him out for roughly two months.