Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta - Premier League
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that two key players, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Riccardo Calafiori, will miss Wednesday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final tie against Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners are looking to bounce back after a frustrating 0-0 draw against Everton in the Premier League last weekend, which has impacted their title aspirations. Injuries have been a recurring challenge for Arsenal this season, with several key players sidelined, including Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White.
Arteta provided an update on Declan Rice, who was surprisingly substituted after an hour against Everton. The manager reassured fans, stating: “He’s fine. We’ll make the decision now whether he’s available or not.”
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However, Arteta confirmed that both Zinchenko and Calafiori will not feature in Wednesday’s match: “No Alex and Richy will be out of the squad for tomorrow.”
Oleksandr Zinchenko and Riccardo Calafiori
Oleksandr Zinchenko and Riccardo Calafiori (Image credit: Getty Images)
When asked about potential squad rotation, Arteta remained non-committal, emphasizing the importance of the match: “We’ll decide that in the morning in relation to how the squad is, the relevance of the match, and the fact that we’re in the quarter-finals. It becomes a very important match. We’ll decide the best team to win it.”
Arteta acknowledged the difficulty of facing Crystal Palace, especially given the short turnaround before their Premier League clash at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
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“It will be very tough – when you look at their recent results, the approach they have, the quality of their individuals, and how they are coached. It’s always really tough. Playing a team twice in four days adds another layer of difficulty, so we have prepared for that.”
The Spaniard also highlighted the busy schedule Arsenal faces, with five fixtures over the festive period. After the doubleheader against Palace, the Gunners host Ipswich Town before taking on Brentford in a London derby on New Year’s Day and travelling to Brighton on January 4th.
“We’ve managed the squad in the best possible way to make sure everybody is fit, available, and ready when the team needs them. If we have to make changes, I’m confident the boys who come in will deliver, and others will step up as needed due to the numbers.”
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