Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is facing fresh injury concerns ahead of the Premier League showdown with Liverpool, with Declan Rice, Riccardo Calafiori and Noni Madueke all doubtful after missing the club’s Carabao Cup defeat to Fleetwood Town.
The Gunners suffered a shock penalty shootout exit against the lower-league side on Tuesday, adding to a disappointing night for the north London club as they struggled to turn their dominance into goals.
The absence of the three players has raised further concerns over Arsenal’s squad depth ahead of Sunday’s trip to Anfield, where they will be seeking to maintain their push at the top of the Premier League table.
Arteta explained that Rice picked up a problem during Saturday’s 2-0 league victory over Everton, forcing the midfielder to come off before the end of the match. Calafiori was also unavailable, while Madueke missed the Fleetwood encounter because of an ankle problem.
“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,” Arteta said after the cup defeat.
Rice’s fitness will be particularly important for Arsenal, given his influence in midfield and the challenge posed by Liverpool. However, the club’s medical team will need to assess the players before their availability for the weekend can be confirmed.
Arsenal’s injury concerns come at a difficult time, with the squad already dealing with other reported absences. Max Dowman is also set to miss the weekend fixture through domestic suspension after being sent off against Fleetwood, further limiting Arteta’s options.
Despite the disappointing cup exit, the Arsenal manager defended his players’ effort and praised Fleetwood for their performance and the atmosphere created by the home supporters.
“First of all, congratulations to Fleetwood. In the manner they did it, the atmosphere they created,” he said.
“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.”
The defeat was a significant setback for Arsenal’s hopes of winning the League Cup, a competition they have not lifted since 1993. Arteta described the outcome as a “very sad day” and pointed to his side’s failure to make their chances count.
“When we create the volume of shots and chances we did, you have to score three, four or five,” he said. “You capitalise on it. If you don’t, there are no margins, and that’s the reality.”
Attention now turns to Liverpool, with Arsenal needing to recover quickly from the cup disappointment and determine which of their injured players will be fit for the contest.
The Anfield encounter could prove important in the title race, with Arsenal level on points with Manchester City, according to the report. After facing Liverpool, Arteta’s side are scheduled to travel to Slavia Prague in the Champions League before hosting Hull City.
For Arsenal, the immediate priority is to improve their finishing, manage their growing fitness concerns and avoid allowing the Fleetwood setback to derail their league campaign.