Sandro Tonali, a pivotal figure in Newcastle’s midfield, is facing a 10-month suspension due to his involvement in a betting scandal.

Arsenal are set to face Newcastle United on 4 November at St James’s Park, with the match kicking off at 5.30pm and Sandro Tonali looks like he will be suspended for that match (and the rest of the season).

His lawyers were in talks this week to seek a last-minute reduction of his forthcoming ban, related to his involvement in a betting scandal.

According to Corriere dello Sport on Monday, Tonali’s sentence is expected to be announced ‘within the next 48 hours’ following discussions with prosecutors.

The report suggested that his ban could be reduced from an initial duration of one year to ten months, with an added seven or eight months of rehabilitation and it seems their information is correct.

This development comes after a meeting between the lead prosecutor Chiné and Tonali’s legal team, where both sides aimed for a ‘peaceful conclusion’ to the ongoing investigation into the footballer.

The discussion, described as ‘intense and detailed’, spanned two hours and focussed on finalising an appropriate plea bargain for Tonali.

UEFA has also been urging a swift resolution to the case, ideally before Newcastle’s upcoming match against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday evening.

However, the real story for Arsenal fans is that if the ban is confirmed within the stated timeline, Tonali would be ruled out of the forthcoming clash against Arsenal – and the return fixture in February.

What sets Tonali’s case apart is his admission of having placed bets on his own team when he was with Milan.

This action requires a more severe penalty, as per the guidelines.