Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta provides Martin Odegaard and Riccardo Calafiori fitness update ahead of Preston clash

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has provided a fitness update on Martin Odegaard and Riccardo Calafiori. It came ahead of their clash with Championship side Preston North End in the Round 16 of the EFL Cup on Wednesday, October 30. Both Calafiori and Odegaard are ruled out of the clash because they are yet to fully recover from their injuries.

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard suffered an ankle sprain with Norway during the UEFA Nations League match against Austria on September 9. He has since missed 10 games for the Gunners across competitions.

Riccardo Calafiori, on the other hand, was forced off with an injury in Arsenal’s UEFA Champions League clash at the Emirates with Shakhtar Donetsk on October 22. Consequently, he wasn’t named among the squad that faced Arne Slot’s Liverpool on Sunday, October 27.

Odegaard’s recovery has been a positive one and Arteta has expressed optimism that he will return to action before the international break in November. Arteta said ahead of their match with Preston (via Evening Standard):

“He’s been on the grass for a few weeks, but there are still a few boxes to tick. Hopefully he’ll be back before the international break.”

However, Arteta’s fitness update on Calafiori was a negative one. After the Italian defender was forced out of the match against Shakhtar Donetsk, he has since conducted some tests to know the severity of his injury. On Calafiori, Arteta said:

“[Riccardo] will be out for a few weeks, I’d say.’’

Arsenal will most likely turn to their youth side for the Carabao Cup match. Apart from Odegaard and Calafiori, other first-team players like Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber will not be available against Preston. The defensive duo picked up an injury in the match against Liverpool on Sunday, October 27.

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Mikel Arteta says he could rotate his squad tomorrow as Arsenal take on Preston

Mikel Arteta has revealed that he will give players who haven’t gotten a lot of playing time at Arsenal the opportunity to feature in the clash with Preston. Arteta said rotating the squad is important but reiterated that the players have to earn the right to play.

In Arsenal’s last Carabao Cup match against Bolton Wanderers, Arteta named a heavily rotated starting XI as four academy players made their first senior starts. After a 5-1 win, the Spanish manager explained what playing for the first team meant to the academy players but stated that it’s much better when they earn the right to play. In the pre-match conference, Arteta revealed his plans to rotate the squad. He told the club’s website:

''It is important. There are players who haven’t played that much, and they will have their chance tomorrow, that’s for sure.

"But you have to earn the right to play and when you have that right, you have to perform, and perform in a way to help impact the team to win the game. That’s what we are going to demand of anybody. Whether you are young, you are an experienced player or you’ve been playing regularly for us.’’

One of the academy players, Ethan Nwaneri, stole the show in the Gunners' last Carabao Cup game as he scored a brace in their 5-1 victory. Consequently, fans showered him with praise.