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A trip to Fleetwood should give Mikel Arteta room to shuffle his Arsenal side, but the hosts have already shown they can ruin somebody's cup night.
The Gunners visit Highbury Stadium tonight with a Carabao Cup quarter-final place at stake. League Two Fleetwood knocked out Sheffield United in the previous round and have yet to concede in this season's competition.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta
Arsenal will be clear favourites, but the home side have earned their big occasion.
Arteta is expected to make changes with Liverpool coming up this weekend. That could open the door for Max Dowman and other youngsters to stake a claim, with the injured Bukayo Saka set to miss the tie.
Arsenal reached this stage by beating Ipswich 4-2 and arrive after a 2-0 win over Everton, having also taken a point from Bayern Munich in a 2-2 Champions League draw last week.
There is plenty to occupy Arteta on the pitch, then, although the January transfer gossip is gathering pace as well.
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|Arsenal’s injury absences and concerns ahead of Fleetwood|
|Player|Injury or issue|Status for Fleetwood|Latest update|
|---|
|Bukayo Saka|Thigh / quadriceps injury|Out|Faces several weeks out. Further scans are needed before Arsenal can confirm a return date.|
|William Saliba|Back injury|Out|Has resumed individual training but remains unavailable. No confirmed return date.|
|Christos Tzolis|Hamstring injury|Major doubt|Recovery is progressing, with a return to team training expected this week. Fleetwood could come too soon.|
|Riccardo Calafiori|Minor issue, diagnosis unspecified|Doubtful|Picked up a problem against Everton. Arteta described it as small, but his availability remains uncertain.|
|Declan Rice|Hamstring concern; ongoing lower back issue|Fitness concern|Was seen holding his right hamstring against Everton. A fresh injury has not been confirmed, and he could be rested.|
|Martin Zubimendi|Reported broken nose|Expected to be available|May need a protective mask after the Everton game, but remains in contention to start.|
Julian Alvarez remains a name worth watching, as reports suggest that Arsenal retain an interest in the Atlético Madrid forward, but the Spanish club have told potential buyers he will be staying through January.
Lennart Karl is another attacker featuring in reports, and journalist Graeme Bailey says intermediaries have made clubs aware of his situation at Bayern Munich, with Arsenal among those following developments.
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Those stories underline how difficult winter recruitment can be, and while Arsenal may have ambitions to add quality, the clubs holding the contracts have their own seasons to protect.
One player now being pushed firmly into the spotlight is Club Brugge striker Nicolo Tresoldi.
Arsenal preparing January Nicolo Tresoldi bid as report puts them ahead of rivals
Club Brugge's Nicolo Tresoldi in action with RC Lens' Thorgan Hazard
Club Brugge's Nicolo Tresoldi in action with RC Lens' Thorgan Hazard
According to newspaper Het Belang van Limburg, as relayed by Sport Witness, Arsenal are preparing an offer aimed at bringing the German youth international to London in January.
The Belgian newspaper also places the Gunners ahead of the other interested clubs.
Chelsea, Liverpool and Aston Villa are among the sides said to have watched him at Brugge, alongside several major European clubs, but Arteta's side are described as leading the pack.
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There is already a connection between the clubs after Christos Tzolis joined Arsenal during the summer, so Tresoldi could be offered the chance to link up with his former teammate again.
Brugge's position is the major obstacle.
The report says they want to keep their "top" striker for the remainder of the campaign and are not setting a January asking price, but HBVL suggest that a 'crazy' offer of £59 million could turn their heads.
Club Brugge's Nicolo Tresoldi in action with Atalanta's Ederson
Club Brugge's Nicolo Tresoldi in action with Atalanta's Ederson
Tresoldi is contracted until 2029, leaving Brugge with time on their side, and they also want his eventual departure to bring in a club record fee.
Any suggestion that Arsenal can simply name a figure and get the transfer moving would be premature, and a prepared bid still needs a willing seller.
For Arteta, another attacking option would add competition during a demanding campaign, especially one who has already bagged 12 goals in 14 matches this term.
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