Injury update: Arsenal short in defence

Centre-back William Saliba and winger Leandro Trossard are doubts for Arsenal’s Carabao Cup semi-final against Chelsea, while defenders Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie won’t be available.

It means Arsenal could have just four senior defenders available for the first leg in Gabriel, Ben White, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Jurrien Timber, plus 16-year-old Marli Salmon.

Saliba, Trossard and Hincapie all missed Arsenal’s victory at Portsmouth in the FA Cup third round while Calafiori has a muscle injury that has ruled him out of the last five matches.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said the injuries to Saliba and Trossard are “nothing serious”, but he didn’t know when Hincapie would return.

Calafiori is “progressing” but still expected to be out for a few weeks.

Centre-back Cristhian Mosquera is still out with an ankle injury, meaning Arsenal remain short for defensive options.

PL and European clubs montioring White’s situation at Arsenal

Latest from Sky Sports News’ Dharmesh Sheth:

A number of clubs in the Premier League and Europe are monitoring Ben White’s situation at Arsenal.

Injuries and the form of Jurrien Timber have restricted White to just four Premier League starts this season.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has said every player has a role to play for the rest of the season as the club continue to fight across all four competitions.

White’s current contract – which he signed in March 2024 – runs until 2028, with Arsenal holding the option to extend for a further year.

Arteta pays tribute to Mertesacker

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta on Per Mertesacker leaving at the end of the season:

“It’s been 15 years at the club. We were teammates, friends, captains together and we shared this incredible pride together in different roles – him as academy director and me as manager.

“I enjoy every minute of it. He’s someone who transmits the values of the club, its ambition and everything that is related to it in the best manner.

“Very thankful. We had a great time together and I wish him the best of luck for the next chapter because I’m sure he will be a success.”

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7 hour ago7h ago15:05

Arteta: Hopefully we’ve learnt from last year

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta on the motivation of defeat last season in the Carabao Cup:

“Football gives you another chance. We have been really consistent again in the competition and no we have to knock another big team out to be in the final. That’s the mission.

“Hopefully, we learn from last year because it was painful, especially the manner in which the games went and the amount of chances we missed. Hopefully, this year we are better and more efficient.”

Arteta on Rosenior…uh

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta on facing Liam Rosenior as a player in FA Cup final:

“I’ve seen a few pictures of that. That’s the beauty of football. Two very different careers but at the end facing eachother tomorrow at Stamford Bridge in a semi-final.”

Have your paths crossed since? “No, I know people that have worked with him. They talk really highly of him so I wish him all the best apart from tomorrow.”

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7 hour ago7h ago15:03

Is Havertz ready to start?

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta:

“We have to manage his minutes but he had a good block of 20, 25 minutes the other day. He trained really well today again and now it’s a case of building his robustness and making sure he’s available for every game.”

Arteta: We are so happy to have Havertz back

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta on Kai Havertz:

“We missed him a lot. A year is a long time in football but the way he’s come back, he looks really fit, really confident.

“He’s such an intelligent player that straight away he’s someone who connects with the players really naturally.

“You can tell how much they love him as well because every time he was in or around the box, everyone was jumping off their seats on the bench.

“We are so happy to have him. He’s going to help us so much. Now we have to keep him fit.”

Injury update: Saliba, Trossard, Calafiori, Dowman, Mosqeura

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta gives injury update:

“Those two are not available yet. The other doubts we have are Willy (Saliba) and Leo (Trossard).

How long is Hincapie out for? “We don’t know yet.”

On Calafiori’s muscle injury: “He’s progressing but we don’t know. A few weeks, probably, but we don’t know exactly.”

On Saliba and Trossard: “Those two are doubts because they are not fit enough. Nothing serious.”

Max Dowman: “Very similar to Mosquera as well. Similar injury and timeframes. Both are evolving really well but are not training so a few weeks away.”