Mikel Arteta Reveals Triple Arsenal Injury Blow after Cup Exit

Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Declan Rice, Noni Madueke and Riccardo Calafiori all missed Arsenal’s Carabao Cup exit at Fleetwood Town through injury, adding to a growing list of concerns ahead of Sunday’s trip to Liverpool.

The trio were absent from the matchday squad at Highbury Stadium on Tuesday night, where the Gunners crashed out of the competition after a 5-3 penalty shootout defeat to the League Two side, following a 1-1 draw in normal time.

Speaking to the media after the match, Arteta was asked whether the missing players had been rested and whether he regretted leaving them out. The Arsenal boss made clear that three were unavailable.

‘Calafiori was out, Noni was out with an ankle and Declan finished with a problem the other day [vs. Everton], that is why I had to substitute him,’ Arteta revealed.

Rice’s absence will be the biggest concern. The midfielder was replaced by Martin Zubimendi in the final ten minutes of Saturday’s 2-0 win over Everton, and video footage emerged of him clutching his hamstring. Rice was named Arsenal’s Player of the Season after their title-winning campaign and finished 15th in this year’s Ballon d’Or rankings, underlining just how important he is to the side.

Madueke’s ankle problem is also a significant blow, given his recent form and Arsenal’s lack of options out wide. The winger played the full match against Everton and has taken on extra responsibility on the right flank following Bukayo Saka’s injury at Bayern Munich, with the England international expected to be out for six to eight weeks.

With Christos Tzolis still sidelined with a hamstring injury, Arsenal’s wide options are now stretched thinner than ever. Max Dowman would have been a natural alternative, but the 16-year-old was sent off late on at Fleetwood and now faces a suspension.

Calafiori’s absence leaves Arteta short at left-back and centre-back too, although Piero Hincapié did complete his return from an ankle injury on Tuesday night, while Jurriën Timber also started.

Arteta is also still without William Saliba, who has not featured this season due to a back problem, though the defensive record has held up remarkably well in his absence. The Frenchman has also stepped up his recovery by returning to grass, and a return could be made in the next month.

Arsenal sit level on points with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, and Sunday’s trip to Anfield represents one of the toughest tests of the season.

The Gunners will now turn their attention to their Champions League and Premier League commitments before their FA Cup campaign begins in January, a competition in which they have struggled in recent years.