Mikel Arteta has provided an update on Arsenal’s squad ahead of their Carabao Cup semi-final clash with Chelsea, confirming that Leandro Trossard and William Saliba remain doubts for the tie.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, the Arsenal manager said both players are still being assessed, with late decisions to be made regarding their availability. Any absence would be a setback for the Gunners, given Saliba’s importance in defence and Trossard’s attacking versatility.
Arteta did not go into detail about the nature of their issues but expressed confidence in his squad’s ability to adapt as they aim for a positive result against their London rivals.
Saliba, Trossard, and Hincapie were all absent from Arsenal’s FA Cup third-round win over Portsmouth, while Riccardo Calafiori has missed the last five matches with a muscle injury. Arteta described the problems affecting Saliba and Trossard as “nothing serious” but admitted there is no clear timeline for Hincapie’s return.
Calafiori is said to be progressing well but is still expected to be sidelined for a few weeks. Meanwhile, centre-back Cristhian Mosquera remains unavailable with an ankle injury, leaving Arsenal short of defensive options.
