Evening Standard
·25 de septiembre de 2024
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·25 de septiembre de 2024
Gunners could face goalkeeper crisis with Mikel Arteta’s list of potential absentees into double figures for third-round clash
The Gunners will definitely be missing eight including Leandro Trossard, who is suspended after being sent off against Manchester City on Sunday.
Goalkeeper Neto, who joined on loan from Bournemouth this summer, is cup-tied after playing for the Cherries in their defeat by West Ham in the second round.
Kieran Tierney (hamstring), Martin Odegaard (ankle), Mikel Merino (shoulder), Oleksandr Zinchenko (calf) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) are all set to miss out through injury.
Teenage goalkeeper Tommy Setford is also out with a hip issue and that is a blow to Arsenal with David Raya a doubt.
Raya was filmed limping and with a bandage on his knee while leaving the Etihad Stadium on Sunday and, with No2 Neto unavailable, Mikel Arteta could be forced to play a youngster in goal.
Setford would have been the most likely to start, but now one of 16-year-old Jack Porter or 18-year-old Alexei Rojas may be handed their debut instead.
Raya is one of five Arsenal players who are a doubt for the Bolton game after Arteta revealed the Gunners have injury concerns following the dramatic 2-2 draw with City.
Gabriel Martinelli, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori were all forced to come off at the Etihad. Ben White came on at half-time, but Arteta admitted he was not fully fit.
Jack Porter is expected to start
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
“I always prefer the facts to words or supposing things,” said Arteta, when asked for the team news ahead of the Bolton game. “Let’s see who is available tomorrow and then we can talk about dark arts or these things or if it’s a reality.
“Unfortunately, yes there will be a few players not available. Tomorrow you will find out. As soon as I give the lineup. We will use the facts. If a player is faking something that means he will carry on and be involved in the squad and play.”
Asked if any serious injuries were picked up against City, he added: “We have to wait [on] one of them.”
Arsenal’s injury concerns could give a number of youngsters the chance to play against Bolton, including Ethan Nwaneri, Josh Nichols and Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Predicted Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Porter; Nichols, Gabriel, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Nwaneri, Jorginho, Rice; Saka, Jesus, Sterling
Doubts: Calafiori, Martinelli, Timber, Raya, White
Injured: Merino (shoulder), Odegaard (ankle), Setford (hip), Tierney (hamstring), Tomiyasu (knee), Zinchenko (calf)
Suspended: Trossard
Cup-tied: Neto
Time and date: 7.45pm BST on Wednesday, September 25, 2024
Venue: Emirates Stadium
TV channel: Sky Sports+