Mikel Arteta is well aware that now’s the time for his project to return some silverware.
If you exclude a pair of Community Shield triumphs, Arsenal have gone more than four years without a trophy. Since claiming the FA Cup in year one, the domestic cups have not been kind to Arteta.
“We have to add trophies to that, for sure,” Arteta said back in September when discussing the success of his rebuild. “And we will do our best to achieve that.”
The Gunners have been blessed with kind draws in the Carabao Cup so far, and although Crystal Palace enter Wednesday’s quarter-final in good form, this is a game Arsenal are expected to win. Expect vintage toxicity to return to the Emirates if the Eagles extend their unbeaten run to six.
Arsenal have not been aided by key injuries this term, and there’s unlikely to be much change from the weekend. But this is the latest injury news from the red half of north London ahead of their Carabao Cup quarter-final.
The bulk of Arsenal’s current concerns reside in defence. It doesn’t seem as if the Gunners sustained any fresh injuries from Saturday’s goalless draw with Everton, but it remains to be seen whether any of the absent stars will be fit in time for Wednesday’s cup tie.
Arsenal will be without Ben White after he underwent minor knee surgery during the November international break. He likely won’t play until 2025.
Takehiro Tomiyasu has featured just once this season as a result of a nagging knee issue that seemingly won’t go away. A potential return date for the Japan international has not been revealed.
Oleksandr Zinchenko hasn’t played since he started at left-back in the 2-0 win over Manchester United a fortnight ago. Zinchenko has missed the last three games due to an unspecified knock and is unlikely to return on Wednesday.
Summer arrival Riccardo Calafiori missed almost a month of football because of a knee injury over the autumn and his workload was managed by Arteta once he returned to the fold. However, a groin issue has sidelined the Italy international for the past couple of weeks. Arteta admitted Calafiori was “very close” to returning before the Everton game, but it’s unlikely he’ll be risked in midweek.
Midfielders
It’s been a pretty tough season for Declan Rice so far, although the England international has shown signs of returning to his very best form after the November break. Rice had been bothered by a reported broken toe last month, and it’s not yet clear whether he has fully shaken that problem.
Rice was withdrawn on the hour at the weekend, with Arteta suggesting the £105m man is still carrying a knock at the time. He has since insisted Rice is “fine”, but stopped short of confirming his level of involvement on Wednesday.
Player | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|
Ben White | Knee | Out |
Takehiro Tomiyasu | Knee | Out |
Riccardo Calafiori | Groin | Doubt |
Oleksandr Zinchenko | Knock | Doubt |
Declan Rice | Foot/Knock | Doubt |
READ THE LATEST ARSENAL NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP
Source : 90min.com