Arteta Readies Troops After Surprise Carabao Cup Exit

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has urged his players to bounce back quickly following their shock Carabao Cup exit to League Two side Fleetwood Town on Tuesday night, 27 October.

Despite Viktor Gyokeres scoring to cancel out an early opener, the Gunners were reduced to ten men following Max Dowman’s red card and ultimately crashed out 5-3 on penalties.

Arteta described the evening as a “really sad day”, but praised his squad’s application while vowing to repay the nearly 1000 travelling supporters when they head to Anfield to face Liverpool on Sunday, 1 November.

The north London side face mounting selection headaches ahead of the Merseyside trip. Arteta confirmed fitness concerns over Declan Rice, Riccardo Calafiori and Noni Madueke, who all missed the midweek cup tie due to injury, alongside long-term absentees William Saliba and Bukayo Saka. Dowman will also miss out through suspension.

Currently level on points with Manchester City at the summit of the English Premier League table with 21 points apiece, Arsenal face a defining run before the November international break. Following their showdown with Liverpool, the Gunners travel to Slavia Prague in the Champions League before returning home to face Hull City, making an immediate response at Anfield absolutely necessary.

Image Credit: Source