London: Arsenal have left both Samir Nasri and captain Cesc Fabregas out of their squad to face Newcastle in their opening Premier League fixture on Saturday.
Both Nasri and Fabregas are expected to finalise moves away from the Emirates Stadium in the coming days, to Manchester City and Barcelona respectively.
The two midfielders have dominated the transfer stories this summer with protracted sagas linking them away from the club, and manager Arsene Wenger has finally sanctioned their departures.
Neither will now travel to St James' Park as Arsenal seek to put the off-the-pitch drama behind them and secure a winning start to the season.
Wenger told reporters: "Fabregas is not in the squad and Nasri certainly not, I will decide that today. He [Nasri] went to the national team, he was sick, and he has not completely recovered yet."
Asked whether Nasri's absence was only due to illness, Wenger replied: "There are no other aspects why he would not be in the squad. He could be in the squad, I don't know yet. It depends a bit on the situation of the other players."
Fellow midfielders Jack Wilshere and Abou Diaby are also absent due to injury, but Theo Walcott and Thomas Vermaelen are both fit and in the squad.
Striker Robin van Persie will captain the Gunners if he passes a fitness test before the match, Wenger confirmed in his pre-match press conference.
On the rest of the squad, Wenger continued: "Basically we change it, hopefully on the short term. Diaby – who is not back for August [or the] beginning of September. Everybody else should be available, more or less match fit, but not injured.
"Van Persie and Gibbs should be available. They have a [fitness] test today, especially Van Persie because he is still having problems with his knee but we hope he can get through that. Walcott will be back in the squad and Vermaelen as well."
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