Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Riccardo Calafiori, Noni Madueke and Declan Rice are doubts for Arsenal's Premier League clash with Liverpool on Sunday after all three missed Tuesday's shock Carabao Cup defeat to Fleetwood through injury.
The Gunners were eliminated by the League Two side on penalties, despite Arteta naming a strong starting line-up because of the club's growing injury list. William Saliba, Bukayo Saka and Christos Tzolis are long-term absentees, while Max Dowman will be suspended at the weekend following his red card against Fleetwood.
Arteta explains absent trio
Speaking after the match, Arteta explained why the three players were left at home rather than travelling to Lancashire for the cup tie. "Calafiori was out, Noni was out with an ankle, and Declan was feeling a problem the other day (against Everton), which is why I had to substitute him," the Arsenal manager said.
Arteta will be keen to have some, if not all, of the trio available for the trip to Anfield, with Rice notably spotted in training with his team-mates on Monday. After Saturday's 2-0 victory over Everton, Arsenal are level on points with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table.
Cup hopes ended
Arsenal's hopes of winning the Carabao Cup for the first time in 34 years have already been dashed before the quarter-final stage. Arteta described the defeat as a 'very sad day', while praising Fleetwood for pulling off arguably the biggest shock in the competition's history.
"First of all, congratulations to Fleetwood," the Gunners boss said. "In the manner they did it, the atmosphere they created. I have nothing to fault the players for their attitude and intensity throughout the game, with 11 and with 10, but when you are playing in that superior way, you have to give nothing to the opponent."
"When we create the volume of shots and chances we did, you have to score three, four or five. You capitalise on it. If you don't, there are no margins, and that's the reality. Then you have to wait and get through the round on penalties, and we didn't do that. The probability was low with the way the game was panning out, but it's football and still with low probability, there is always a chance you could be out of the cup."
What's next for Arsenal
After facing Liverpool at Anfield, Arsenal resume their Champions League campaign away to Slavia Prague. The Gunners then welcome Hull before the November international break.
