Mikel Arteta may face a similar situation on Wednesday after fielding a youthful team for the Carabao Cup third round tie at home to League One club Bolton Wanderers last month. This time, Arsenal will travel to Preston North End to play Championship opponents.
Arsenal’s hope of progressing are being tested, despite having quality young players to turn to.
There are several major doubts for the game, including Martin Odegaard, Riccardo Calafiori Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber. Ethan Nwaneri and Miles Lewis-Skelly could benefit from this as well.
As Arsenal gear up for their Carabao Cup match against Preston North End, the treatment room at the Emirates Stadium is bustling with activity.
Here’s the latest on the injury front for the Gunners:
RICCARDO CALAFIORI
The Italian defender is sidelined with a knee injury sustained during the Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk. Calafiori will be out for a few weeks, missing the upcoming fixtures.
MARTIN ODEGAARD
The creative midfielder has been out with an ankle injury for the past 10 matches. While he is closing in on a return, he is not expected to feature in the Carabao Cup tie.
WILLIAM SALIBA
The French defender is available for selection after serving a suspension for a red card against Bournemouth.
TAKEHIRO TOMIYASU
The Japanese right-back has been dealing with a knee injury since pre-season and is currently unavailable.
KIERAN TIERNEY
The Scottish left-back is recovering from a hamstring injury sustained while representing Scotland at EURO 2024.
JURRIEN TIMBER:
The Dutch defender came off with suspected cramp during the recent match against Liverpool. His availability for the Preston North End game is uncertain.
GABRIEL MAGALHAES
The Brazilian centre-back picked up a knee and ankle injury during the match against Liverpool. Tests have revealed that the injuries are not serious, but he is still doubtful for the Carabao Cup fixture.
Mikel Arteta will need to carefully manage his squad to navigate through this challenging period without key players. The match against Preston North End will be a test of Arsenal’s depth and resilience as they aim to progress in the Carabao Cup.
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