Mikel Arteta provides fitness update on 4 key Arsenal stars ahead of Crystal Palace clash

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has provided updates on the availability of four of his side's stars as they prepare to face Crystal Palace on Saturday. The Gunners will be looking to return to winning ways in the league when they visit Selhurst Park after successive draws.

Arsenal have dropped points in back-to-back games against Fulham and Everton, leaving them in third place, six points adrift of leaders Liverpool, who have played a game less. They also have four points less than Chelsea in second place heading into this weekend's action.

The Gunners have been plagued by injuries in recent weeks, leading Arteta to rely on the likes of 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly and Kieran Tierney at left-back. The manager revealed in his press conference ahead of the game against the Eagles that their injury concerns have been abated slightly, with two players set to return.

Arteta said that summer signing Riccardo Calafiori is fit to feature against the Eagles, as is club-record signing Declan Rice. The participation of Ukraine international Oleksandr Zinchenko remains in doubt, while Japanese full-back Takehiro Tomiyasu continues to remain sidelined.

"They (Calafiori and Rice) are both available to be in the squad. Zinchenko could probably be available as well. Tomiyasu won't be," Arteta said via arsenal.com.

Calafiori had been out of action with a groin issue, while Rice was taken off against Everton last weekend with a knock. Zinchenko has been facing an unspecified injury, while Tomiyasu has been struggling with knee problems.

All four players were missing when Arsenal overcame a valiant Crystal Palace side in the Carabao Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday by a 3-2 scoreline. Arteta's men will be eager to repeat the feat, this time away from home, when they face Palace on Saturday.

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Arsenal boss hints at strike partnership ahead of Crystal Palace tie

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has hinted at the possibility of playing a two-man strike partnership with Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz in the future. The Spanish manager made this point while answering questions from the press about the possibility of this happening in his press conference on Friday.

Arteta pointed out that the quality and make-up of his squad makes it a possibility for him to go with two players up front. He also revealed his delight at the performance of Brazilian striker Jesus in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.

"Yeah, that’s possible. With the players that we have and the connection that we can generate, I think it’s very do-able to have that kind of situation. And as I said before, I’m really pleased for Gabby’s performance, for the team’s performance and most importantly for the fact that we are in the semi-finals."

Gabriel Jesus scored a hat-trick for the Gunners as they came from 0-1 down to defeat Crystal Palace 3-2 in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday. The former Manchester City man looked at his best as he took his tally to four goals this season, all of which have come in the cup.