Mikel Arteta drops Arsenal team news hint ahead of Preston North End Carabao Cup clash
The former Everton and Rangers midfielder gave an insight as to how Arsenal might line-up for their Carabao Cup tie.
Arsenal will field a ‘strong’ team against Preston North End, who have been branded as a ‘tough opponent’ by Mikel Arteta.
The Spaniard brings his Gunners side to Deepdale for a Carabao Cup round four clash, and there’s an element of intrigue as to what kind of side will line up against the Lilywhites. Arsenal are battling for the Premier League title, and are in the Champions League, so home supporters will be wondering if Paul Heckingbottom’s men will come up against the Gunners’ glittering stars.
Centre-back Gabriel will be assessed, but in Arteta's words it doesn't 'look bad at all'. Fellow defender, Jurrien Timber, was also brought off against Liverpool last weekend. Riccardo Calafiori will miss out through injury, but France international William Saliba is back from suspension. Martin Odegaard is unlikely to feature, having been sidelined since the September international break. Scotland left-back Kieran Tierney is another player that won’t play.
“It is important,” said Arteta, in his pre-match press conference, when asked about finding the balance in team selection. “We will try to find the right balance there. As you said, we have very demanding matches now, in different competitions. We want to win them all and we have to start tomorrow to get the momentum again and we’ll put a strong team out.
“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.”
Arsenal haven't competed in the Carabao Cup final since 2018, when they lost 3-0 to Manchester City. They suffered a 2-1 defeat to Birmingham City in 2011 and last lifted the trophy in 1993. During his near five-year reign, Arteta has won the FA Cup with Arsenal and also had them challenging for the league title. He’s spoken of the importance of the Carabao Cup, though, and how a win would be key to their involvement in other competitions.
“It’s important, because it keeps everybody alive,” said Arteta. “It maintains the winning habit which is really, really important, and it shows you care about every competition, regardless of what you play. You have to compete for every match you are in, or you are out. The margins are so small and tomorrow we are going to face a really tough opponent.”