Mikel Arteta provides injury update on William Saliba and 4 other Arsenal stars ahead of Brighton EFL Cup clash

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has provided updates on the fitness of five first-team players ahead of their Carabao Cup clash with Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday, October 29. The Spaniard delivered mixed news regarding the availability of William Saliba, Gabriel Martinelli, Riccardo Calafiori, Declan Rice, and Bukayo Saka.

The Gunners were last in action against Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday, October 26. During the match, Arteta was forced to make some changes. Saliba was withdrawn at half-time; Calafiori and Rice were substituted in the second half, while Martinelli required treatment after the full-time whistle.

Speaking in a press conference on Tuesday, Arteta confirmed that Saliba and Martinelli will miss tomorrow’s clash against the Seagulls due to injuries. On Saliba, the Gunners boss said:

"He's out. We are assessing him, but he won't be involved in this match."

On Martinelli’s availability, Arteta continued:

"It looks like he's going to be out as well. We have to do some more tests and see the extent of the injury, but this game is going to be too early for him."

Winger Bukayo Saka is a doubt for the match after being withdrawn from the game against Palace due to illness.

"He is going to be fine," Arteta said of the England international.

However, there was good news for Arsenal supporters as Arteta revealed that Calafiori and Rice will both be available for selection. Tomorrow’s contest against Brighton will be Arsenal’s 250th match in the history of the Carabao Cup. The Gunners defeated Port Vale in the third round to set up a clash with Fabian Hurzeler’s men.

Mikel Arteta on the importance of Carabao Cup to Arsenal

Mikel Arteta is hoping that Arsenal can get a positive result against Brighton and go all the way and win this season’s Carabao Cup. The Gunners are enjoying excellent form and look likely to win every trophy they are competing for this season.

When asked how important it is for his team to go deep in the competition, Arteta responded:

“Today the most important one because it's the game that we have tomorrow. It's a competition that we haven't won it for many, many years and it has to start tomorrow. We have to do a great game in order to be able to beat a very good Brighton side. We know that, we are prepared for that and we have to show it on the pitch.”

Arsenal have won the Carabao Cup just two times and haven’t won it since 1993. Their most recent appearance in the final was in 2018, where they lost 3-0 to Manchester City.