Mohamed Elneny Arsenal EPL
Mohamed Elneny Arsenal

Arsenal take on Liverpool in the 2nd leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final and going into this key game, the Gunners have a major selection issue.

Arsenal currently have 12 first-team regulars missing due to various reasons and almost all of them aren’t expected to return for Thursday’s key clash.

Several players have joined their respective national sides for the Africa Cup of Nations while a few of them are out with injuries. Martin Odegaard is the sole COVID affected player while Granit Xhaka is suspended after picking up a red card in the 1st leg.

Which Arsenal players are doubts for the 2nd leg?

Granit Xhaka – Suspended

Takehiro Tomiyasu – Calf

Sead Kolasinac – Hamstring

Mohamed Elneny – AFCON

Thomas Partey – AFCON

Emile Smith Rowe – Groin

Martin Ødegaard – Covid

Nicolas Pepe – AFCON

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – AFCON

Bukayo Saka – Groin

Calum Chambers – Knock

Cedric – Hip Injury.

Some of the latest reports are suggesting that the Arsenal vs Liverpool is set to go ahead since Martin Odegaard has recovered from COVID and in the past 48 hours, there have been no fresh outbreaks.

This means Odegaard should be ready to play on Thursday but with so many absentees, it will be a nightmare for Mikel Arteta to set up a strong starting XI.

A 10-man Arsenal side managed to hold Liverpool to a 0-0 draw in the 1st leg but with so many players missing, there’s a very small chance that the Gunners will be able to pull the rabbit out of the hat two weeks in a row.

The North London side have performed really well in recent months but with a second-fiddle line up, it will be a miracle even if they can stop Liverpool from scoring more than two goals.

UPDATE: Full-back Sead Kolasinac has left Arsenal by mutual consent to join French Ligue 1 side Olympique Marseille.

Read: Here’s how the Gunners could line up vs Liverpool

Read: Liverpool’s predicted line up against Mikel Arteta’s men – EFL Cup.