Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has raised concerns over the availability of Leandro Trossard and William Saliba ahead of his side’s crucial Carabao Cup semi-final clash against Chelsea.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Arteta confirmed that both players are still being assessed and may not be fit in time for the London derby. He explained that a final decision on their involvement will be taken closer to kick-off.
“Trossard and Saliba are still being evaluated. We’ll have to wait and see before making a late call on their availability,” the Arsenal boss said.
Any absence would be a significant setback for the Gunners. Saliba has been a pillar at the heart of Arsenal’s defence, while Trossard’s versatility and attacking intelligence have made him an important option in Arteta’s squad.
Although Arteta declined to go into detail about the injuries, he played down fears, insisting the issues are not serious. However, he admitted uncertainty over the return date of Piero Hincapie, who, alongside Saliba and Trossard, missed Arsenal’s FA Cup third-round victory over Portsmouth.
Meanwhile, Riccardo Calafiori remains sidelined with a muscle injury that has kept him out of action for the past five matches. Arteta revealed that the defender is making progress but is still expected to be unavailable for a few more weeks.
Arsenal’s defensive worries continue, with centre-back Cristhian Mosquera also ruled out due to an ankle injury, leaving the North London side short of options at the back as they prepare to face Chelsea.
Despite the setbacks, Arteta remains confident his squad will rise to the occasion as Arsenal aim to secure a positive result against their London rivals.
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