Mikel Arteta has shared a detailed update on Arsenal’s injury situation as preparations continue for the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Speaking today at the Sobha Realty Training Centre, the Arsenal manager addressed concerns across the squad ahead of what SoftFootball has described as a massive EFL Cup showdown.
The update followed Arsenal’s impressive 4-1 FA Cup win over Portsmouth, a match where several senior players were absent despite the strong result, which was powered by a Martinelli hat-trick.
Arteta confirmed that defensive duo Piero Hincapie and Riccardo Calafiori are still unavailable, with no immediate return date in sight. Explaining the situation in a post shared by the club’s official X account, the manager made it clear both defenders are still short of full fitness and not ready for selection.
As he put it plainly:
Those two are not available yet.
Arteta went on to clarify Calafiori’s issue in more detail, noting that while progress is being made, patience is still required.
On the Italian defender, he said:
It’s a muscle injury. He’s progressing, but we don’t know. I think it will matter for a few weeks probably, but we don’t know exactly when.
Hincapie’s recovery remains uncertain, with scans still pending and no clear timeline offered. There was also concern around William Saliba and Leandro Trossard, both of whom missed the FA Cup tie. Arteta confirmed the pair are doubts for Wednesday, adding another layer of uncertainty in both defence and attack as Arsenal head into the first leg.
Updates were also provided on long-term absentees Max Dowman and Cristhian Mosquera. Arteta explained that both players are recovering from similar ankle injuries and are progressing well but are still some distance away from a return.
He said:
(Max) is very similar to Mosquera. Very similar injuries, very similar time frames. Both evolving really well, but they’re not training yet, so they’re still a few weeks away.
One positive note came in the form of Kai Havertz, who recently returned to action. Arteta stressed the importance of managing the German’s comeback carefully while praising his impact and intelligence.
Speaking after his return against Portsmouth, he said:
Obviously we missed him a lot. A year is a long time in football… We have to manage his minutes now.
With several key players still uncertain, Arteta faces a delicate balancing act ahead of the trip to Stamford Bridge. While injuries may limit his options, the possible availability of Havertz offers a timely boost, and Arsenal will travel knowing that managing the first leg smartly could be just as important as the result itself.
