Mikel Arteta is well aware that now is the time for his project to return some silverware.
Barring a pair of Community Shield triumphs, Arsenal have gone more than four years without a trophy. Ever since they won the FA Cup in their first year, 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 were blessed with kind draws in the game Carabao Cup so far, and although Crystal Palace entered Wednesday's quarter-final in good form, this is a game Arsenal will expect to win. Expect the vintage toxicity to return to the Emirates if the Eagles extend their unbeaten run to six.
Arsenal have not been helped by key injuries this term, and it is unlikely that there will be much change from the weekend. But this is the latest injury news from the red side of north London ahead of their Carabao Cup quarter-final.
The biggest concern for Arsenal at the moment lies in defence. The Gunners do not appear to have picked up any new injuries from Saturday's goalless draw with Everton, but it remains to be seen whether any of the absent stars will arrive in time for Wednesday's cup tie.
Arsenal will be without Ben White after undergoing minor knee surgery during the November international break. He probably won't play until 2025.
Takehiro Tomiyasu has only appeared once this season as a result of a nagging knee problem that won't seem to go away. The potential return date of the Japanese international has not been revealed.
Oleksandr Zinchenko has not played since starting at left-back in the 2-0 win over Manchester United two weeks ago. Zinchenko has missed the last three games with an unspecified knock and is unlikely to return on Wednesday.
The arrival of summer Riccardo Calafiori he missed nearly a month of football with a knee injury in the autumn and his workload was managed by Arteta when he returned to the squad. However, a groin problem has sidelined the Italian international for the past few weeks. Arteta admitted Calafiori was "very close" to a return before Everton game but is unlikely to be risked midweek.
It was a pretty tough season Declan Rice so far, although the English international has shown signs of returning to his best form after the November break. Rice was plagued by a reported broken toe last month, and it's not yet clear if he's fully recovered from that problem.
Rice was withdrawn at one o'clock at the weekend and Arteta suggested the £105m man was still knocking: “With Declan I had to take him off because he was feeling something. He's been a bit anxious for the past week. He asked to be transferred at that point, so we have to do it."
Player | An injury | Status |
---|---|---|
Ben White | The knee | Out |
Takehiro Tomiyasu | The knee | Out |
Riccardo Calafiori | Groin | Doubt |
Oleksandr Zinchenko | Knock | Doubt |
Declan Rice | Leg/knock | Doubt |
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